Premier Kenney launches new schools

By Murray Green

Last month, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announced that new schools will be built in Calgary, Edmonton and Camrose.

Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange said the province will also proceed with modernizations or replacement schools in Evanston, Milk River, Cochrane, Manning and Acme. The government has earmarked $251 million for these projects and for the design of four others over the next three years.

As part of the Budget 2021 Government Capital Plan, on March 10, 2021, the Minister of Education and Minister of Infrastructure announced the approval of a new high school in Camrose.

Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS) will have a new Grade 8 to 12 school in Valleyview West that will open in 2025. EICS currently has 18 schools as follows: two in the City of Camrose, four in the City of Fort Saskatchewan, eight in the Hamlet of Sherwood Park, two in rural Strathcona County and two in the Town of Vegreville.

Elk Island Catholic Schools (EICS), part of Alberta’s publicly-funded education system, proudly serves over 7,300 students in the communities of Camrose, Fort Saskatchewan, Sherwood Park, Strathcona County and Vegreville.

“We do not have an exact budget. Depending on the Tech-Cost (TCCL) Schematic Design Report cost estimate, the building construction cost sits at $23 million. We have since worked on getting the cost down. We will have a better idea when we receive the cost estimate,” said Claude Valcout, EICS director of facilities.

Projected completion is approximately June 30, 2025, so the tentative school opening date is September 2025.

Expected starting enrolment is around 400, with a capacity up to 460 and up to 635, including modulars.

Chester Ronning

The Chester Ronning School replacement offers students a state-of-the-art learning environment.

The replacement school was constructed on the west site of the existing building, ensuring that students have access to the same community neighbourhood resources and supports. The school was projected to be completed in 2022-23, and students moved in on April 4 of this year. It also has a new playground.

Originally constructed in 1968, Chester Ronning School now serves about 300 students. The new school has a capacity of 350 students. The modernization of Chester Ronning School was number one on the BRSD capital list.

NEW SCHOOL

Murray Green, Camrose Booster

Pictured left to right: Elk Island Catholic Schools superintendent Paul Corrigan, Camrose MLA Jackie Lovely, Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and school board chair Ted Paszek perform the honours of groundbreaking on April 7 for a new high school in Valleyview West. The school is slated to open in 2025 at an estimated cost of $23 million.

CLASS TOUR

Murray Green, Camrose Booster

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney discusses the various levels of government to Mrs. Carly Olson’s class at Chester Ronning School with students Kaydence O’Neil-Levere and Bella Brook on April 7 (Hat Day). The school opened three days before his visit. Below, left to right: Battle River School Division assistant superintendent Shan Jorgenson-Adams, BRSD chair Karen Belich, Chester Ronning School principal Reid Lansing, Premier Jason Kenney, MLA Jackie Lovely, assistant principal Nathan Pederson and BRSD director of communications Diane Hutchinson.