Media Releases

<< back to news listing

State-of-the-art school to be built in mature neighbourhood

Wed, 16 Apr, 2014

Edmonton Public Schools will hold public meetings to help determine the location of a state-of-the-art replacement school in one of three mature areas. The replacement school will consolidate an existing junior high and two elementary schools into a new or modernized K-9 school.   

“We are very excited about this opportunity to reinvest in a mature neighbourhood,” says Board Chair Sarah Hoffman. “Students, parents and the community will benefit with the addition of a state-of-the-art school that will serve the area for years to come.”

Areas being considered are: Greater Highlands (Highlands, , and schools) Greater Lawton (, and schools) and Greater Westmount (Westmount, Coronation and Inglewood schools). *Virginia Park (Greater Highlands) and Westglen (Greater Westmount) may also be considered in the proposed consolidation, depending on the wishes of the community. 

“Our plan is have existing schools in the selected community to remain open until the replacement school is completed, two years from now, in 2016,” says Darrel Robertson, Superintendent of Schools. “Once the new school is completed, existing school facilities in the chosen area will be looked at for potential community-use.”  

Three rounds of public meetings will be held in each of the identified areas in April, May and June. Community investment partners, such as the City of Edmonton, community leagues, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, YMCA, REACH and others, are also being consulted during the process. In addition, two online surveys will be available on the Edmonton Public Schools website for the community, stakeholders and the public to provide feedback on the location of the replacement school.

In January 2014, the Province of Alberta announced the District would receive a replacement school for a mature neighbourhood. One of the requirements was that the location of the new school was to be determined by the end of June 2014. A recommendation on the location of the replacement school will be presented to the Board of Trustees on June 24th.

The cost of the new replacement school will be influenced by design elements and features unique to the location selected; however it is expected to be about $20 million. 

For further information, call the Edmonton Public Schools media relations line at 780-429-8282 or visit: spaceforstudents.epsb.ca.

Background

Public Meetings

Three rounds of public meetings will be held in each of the identified areas in April, May and June. The meetings will include information on what a potential replacement school could look like, the features and programs it might offer, the factors being considered in selecting the successful community and the process involved.

Input from public meetings and the online surveys will be used to help choose the location of the new school and to support future student accommodation decisions.

Final Public Meeting 
A final public meeting will be held on June 19 to share which community will be recommended to the Board of Trustees for consideration. Information will be provided on how the recommendation was shaped, based on the data and feedback collected. Meeting time and location to be confirmed.

How the three areas were chosen

To help choose which mature neighbourhoods would be considered for the new replacement school, the District looked at: enrolment; number of students living in the area; proximity of area schools; age of schools; general condition of the buildings; costs to modernize; and site constraints. 

Currently, existing junior high schools in the areas being considered are operating between 27 – 33 per cent of their enrolment capacity. The new replacement school will have a similar enrolment capacity as the existing area junior high school; however, its design features would provide for appropriate space, technology and access standards to allow it to accommodate all K to Grade 9 students from other schools in the area.   

The location of the new replacement school will be determined through detailed assessments and physical inspections on all schools being considered.  This includes looking at traffic patterns, access and roadway infrastructure and transit accessibility, all in conjunction with the City of Edmonton. Ample parking and convenient and safe drop-off facilities will be also be looked at as part of the design process.

Design features of a “state-of-the-art” replacement school

A replacement school would reflect the same standard as new schools being built in new neighbourhoods. There would be appropriate space and technology for all proposed programs, including adequate spaces for career and technology studies and other options. It would meet or exceed all health and safety code requirements, be more environmentally sustainable, with efficient mechanical and electrical systems and be well organized and able to provide opportunities and spaces for collaboration between staff and students. It would feature full accessibility to all areas, including elevators, washrooms and ramps, meeting the latest building standards.

This project reflects and supports community revitalization initiatives underway by the City of Edmonton. Areas not chosen at this time to receive a replacement school will continue to be considered in future capital planning requests.