For a third-straight year, Pembina Hills Public Schools trustees have picked the modernization of Barrhead Composite High School and Westlock Elementary School as the top two priorities for the division’s 2019-2022 capital plan.
Secretary-treasurer Tracey Meunier told trustees at the March 21 meeting in Barrhead that school divisions must submit their three-year capital plans to the province by the end of March.
Administration’s recommendation was to keep the two current priorities status quo — trustee Kerry McElroy, put forward the motion to accept the recommendation
The modernization of BCHS is estimated at $33.92 million. The capital plan noted the original portion of Barrhead Composite was constructed in 1958 and the building was expanded in 1961, 1962, 1969, 1980 and 1987.
The school’s current enrolment is 673 students, but its total capacity according to the province’s utilization formula is 1,227.
The modernization of WES is estimated at just under $8.8 million. The capital plan noted the school was originally built in 1970 and expanded in 1986, so the modernization would only affect the 1970 portion of the building.
Meunier said that if they’re fortunate enough to have the province approve either project there would be a lengthy process to figure the modernizations would look like and what the actual costs would be, she indicated.
She noted that a business case would be required in both situations, which is when the actual costs would be determined.
Board chair Jennifer Tuininga noted the capital plan included a site report conducted by Alberta Education in 2015, but the province had also completed a visit to the school this year.
Meunier confirmed Alberta Education visited BCHS this year to conduct an audit of the building to identify its current status and what improvements needed to be made.
“Before we submit our capital plan, though, can we get a copy of the most recent report? Doesn’t that help us more if we have two (site reports) instead of just one?” Tuininga asked.
Meunier said the province will have the information on that audit internally, but they had a firm deadline of March 31 to submit the capital plan priorities.
She added that Alberta Education decides which schools it visits to audit, but ultimately all school buildings are visited.
Meunier noted that WES is the No. 2 priority “simply because of the age of the building.”
Trustee Wendy Scinski asked if a new gymnasium at Busby School had once been a priority in the three-year capital plan.
Meunier confirmed that was the case, but trustees two years ago to remove it.
“The rationale at that point … was that (approval) was highly unlikely given the utilization of the school,” she said.
Scinski asked if the barrier-free upgrades to Busby School — which the board approved on Feb. 14 and will be carried out this summer — wouldn’t fall under the three-year capital plan.
Meunier indicated that the three-year capital plan generally covers construction of new schools, replacement schools and full/major modernizations of buildings.
They also take a great deal of time to be approved; Meunier joked that children currently attending Kindergarten would likely be in university by the time either modernization is approved.
“We don’t wait until we get approval (for every capital project). We proceed where we have resources to do upgrades,” she said, noting that both have received small upgrades and repairs.
Meunier noted that the province seems to be favouring major projects that have some form of partnership with another jurisdiction or government agency.
Tuininga added there are new school projects where jurisdictions have agreed to share space with another school board, or they’ve partnered with a library, Alberta Health Services or another organization.
“Moving forward, that’s something to keep in mind. If there is opportunity,” Meunier said.
