Pembina Hills trustees have agreed to transfer ownership of the former Jarvie School and grounds to the people of Jarvie, subject to provincial government approval.
At their regular meeting in Barrhead Dec. 10, trustees voted unanimously to ask Manmeet Bhullar, Alberta Minister of Infrastructure, to sell the property to the Jarvie Community Council for $1.
Last February, the board voted to close both Jarvie School and W.R. Frose School in Fawcett, citing declining enrolment and other issues. The students were transferred to Dapp School, which was renamed the Pembina North Community School.
Supt. Colleen Symyrozum-Watt said discussion about what to do with Jarvie School first began in May 2014, shortly after trustees decided to close the school at the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
She said trustees formed a committee, along with other division employees, to discuss what should be don with the now-vacant properties.
Symyrozum-Watt said residents of Jarvie, Fawcett and the surrounding area were invited to two meetings in July to express interest in taking over the properties.
“We then received a letter on Oct. 28 from the Jarvie Community Council asking us to discuss the acquisition of the Jarvie School property,” she said.
On Dec. 3, the division’s joint use facilities committee met with the Jarvie Community Council where it was decided the school division would sell the property to the community for the token amount of $1.
Before a school division sells a piece of property, Symyrozum-Watt said Alberta Infrastructure requires the division to get the property appraised to find out what its market value is and advertise the sale.
“This is really important,” Symyrozum-Watt said.
“When real property is being transferred to another board, municipality, a community association, a charitable or non-profit organization … the board is not required to sell it at market value, call for tenders, public auction or advertise the sale.”
Westlock North trustee Jackie Comeau said she supported the Jarvie Community Council’s effort in taking position of the old school.
“It will be such a good thing for the community. You can sense their excitement,” said Comeau, adding that the community already has a number of plans for the facility.
Ross Lea, president of the Jarvie Community Council, said they plan on converting the school into a community centre and adding a kitchen.
“We’d have to do a lot of renovations and work on it,” said Lea.
“We’ve actually approached the county about development permits.”
Lea said they will also have to develop a plan to apply for grants in order to proceed with the renovations.
Comeau indicated the group will also keep the Jarvie Public Library in the school.
There is no official word yet regarding the fate of W.R. Frose School in Fawcett.
Board chair Kim Webster said the matter will be discussed at a PACO (Fawcett Agricultural Society) meeting in January.
