The provincial government has committed to funding the reported $6 million modernization and installation of six modular classrooms at Dapp School to transform it into the new Pembina North Community School.
The new K-9 school is slated to house the students of Dapp School, Jarvie School and W.R. Frose School in Fawcett starting in the 2014-2015 school year.
Barrhead-Morinville-Westlock MLA Maureen Kubinec made the announcement at an assembly last Thursday at Dapp School. The assembly capped off a joint activity day that brought together the students of all three schools for a series of fun activities.
“I have to tell you how excited I am to make this announcement,” said Kubinec. “All the stuff the (transition team) has planned for, the six modulars, it’s going to happen!”
Kubinec was referring to the work of the transition team, a group of principals, division staff and parents that have been planning out the transition to the new Pembina North Community School over the past year, deciding on things like the school’s new name and “United We Achieve Excellence” purpose statement.
She also highlighted all the other work done to get to this point, such as the efforts of the Westlock North Task Force that first recommended the creation of a new K-9 school in early 2013 and the community consultations that occurred back in April 2012.
“The people in this community faced a really tough task and I’m really proud of the work you did,” Kubinec said, noting she also credits the school division for involving the community to find a solution.
“Not everyone loves to do what you did, but you did it. And you did it because it was best for kids.”
Kubinec said the modernization of Dapp School will increase the student capacity from 218 to 320 students and add new features to the building.
She and Pembina Hills Supt. Colleen Symyrozum-Watt clarified later that the plan is to have the modular classrooms in place by September.
That said, the entire modernization of the school “can’t occur by that point,” said Symyrozum-Watt, noting the complete process will take upwards of 18 months.
“We will work with the Ministry (of Education) to have that happen. That’s going to be an amazing feat alone to have the modulars by that point,” Symyrozum-Watt added.
In December, Pembina Hills director of facilities and transportation Tracy Tyreman stated the cost of modernizing Dapp School was estimated at $5.94 million.
Kubinec declined to specify whether that was still the estimated cost of the modernization project, noting that once a price tag is put on it, “that’s what the (contractor’s) quote will come in at.”
However, Pembina Hills board chair Kim Webster later said she had spoken with representatives from Alberta Education and Alberta Capital Planning and the cost of the project is now estimated at just over $6 million.
“I don’t know the firm number, but they did say it was over $6 million,” she said.
Webster said the division’s share of that expense is half the cost of transporting and placing the six modular classrooms.
She also noted she had heard modernization will take up to 18 months, but the province is planning to have the modulars in place by September.
“So the space will be there, but (Dapp School) will continue to be renovated over the next period of time,” she said.
The future of Jarvie School and W.R. Frose School are unknown at this point, but Webster said trustees will be reviewing which schools meet the division’s school closure criteria in February.
This discussion had been delayed by the school board while waiting on this announcement from the provincial government.
Alberta Education and Capital Planning had long voiced support for the project over a series of summer meetings, but they had not officially agreed to fund the creation of the Pembina North Community School until now.
Webster said this announcement was “one more step” in the process that has been going on over the past three years, starting with the community engagement and ending with the transition team.
“It’s just one step in the journey, (albeit) a really important one. We’ve been anxiously waiting and hoping to hear this,” Webster said.
“Receiving the modernization and the modulars will offer the physical structure of support that we need to enable this re-envisioned regional school.”
Symyrozum-Watt also said this project could not moved forward without Kubinec’s support.
“She’s supported us from the beginning, and she hasn’t really skipped a beat,” the superintendent said.
At the end of the assembly, Dapp School principal and transition team member Darcie Eamor said that on behalf of the staff at all three schools, “we’re thrilled with this announcement.”
“We’re also excited about the opportunities that this new Pembina North Community School can bring for all of our children,” she said.
“You know what, guys? Together we know that united we will achieve excellence.”
