Aspen View Public School District Supt. Neil O’Shea and trustee Dennis MacNeil met with Athabasca County Council Oct. 31 to discuss the possibility of a separate school in Athabasca.
They wanted to inform the County of their concerns if a separate school is approved for the Town of Athabasca, noting any students that leave the public-school system to take part in the private stream of education will impact funding on the public side.
Currently the separate school is little more than theory with the submission from local interested parents to Alberta Education. There will still have to be a survey done of residents identifying how many Roman Catholics reside in the Town, then a series of public meetings and finally a vote by self-identified Catholics.
It will still be up to Minister of Education Adriana LaGrange if the separate school is approved and O’Shea noted the process will have be completed by April 1, 2020 if the separate school is to start by September of next year.
Alberta Education does not look at sustainability in the community, only constitutionally, meaning freedom of religion in this case.
While the public-school board will not be able to speak at information sessions the Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School Division will eventually hold, they are reaching out to stakeholders informing them of concerns noted O’Shea.
“We will always take the high road in respect to what parents what,” O’Shea said. “We are open to all faith groups and if there’s some need we aren’t meeting come speak to us.”
O’Shea added Aspen View students can get access to religion education for 10 weeks starting every November from local church leaders.
County councillor Doris Splane commented that the addition of a separate school system could create competition for students.
“Can we sustain two school systems in the town of Athabasca?” MacNeil said. “We agree there could be fracturing in the community.”
Aspen View has already seen enrolment decline with 70 fewer students from the previous year and have concerns if future students leave the public education system for the separate one.
“Choice will be limited because of separation,” MacNeil added. “There will be less money for both because of lower enrolment at both.”
O’Shea noted adding a separate school will not impact the Town of Athabasca other than education money will be split between the public and separate school systems.
He added that any parents outside of the town will have to provide transportation to the separate school if approved.
MacNeil stated, “If we have to share the resources in the school system, I don’t see how we can sustain the system at all.”
Lakeland Roman Catholic Separate School Division Supt. Joe Arruda declined to comment.
Community Transportation
Council approved the purchase of a new wheelchair accessible bus for $83,840. The initial cost was $400 lower but Coun. Travais Johnson moved to add a backup camera to the package. The money will come out of next years’ budget with partners in the project paying their costs. Counc. Christi Bilsky suggested the Community Transportation committee seek corporate sponsorship to help offset the costs.
