Officials with Wild Rose School Division will be sharing information next week regarding the division’s capital plans for École Rocky Elementary School and Lochearn Elementary School.

The Division will be hosting a virtual community engagement session to outline those potential plans on Feb. 17, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Division officials say both buildings will soon need to be modernized, and while this is likely a few years away still, officials note the need to start putting a plan together now.

One potential idea the Board is considering, is to ask Alberta Education to build one new elementary school in Rocky Mountain House rather than modernizing both elementary schools. Officials acknowledge this may be attractive to the Province in terms of overall cost and efficiencies, as well as improving overall utilization rates in Rocky Mountain House schools.

Wild Rose School Division’s current utilization rates are as follows:
• École Rocky Elementary – 42%
• Lochearn Elementary – 72%
• Pioneer Middle School – 52%
• West Central High School – 58%
• Overall Utilization for Rocky – 55%

According to Wild Rose officials, past experience has shown them that the government is more likely to approve capital plans that improve efficiencies and increase utilization rates. They note, Alberta Education wants to see utilization rates of 90 per cent.

Officials say this plan would require some grade realignments in Rocky schools. Possible scenarios include:

Scenario 1

o Build a new K-3
o Pioneer – Grade 4-8
o WCHS – Grade 9-12

Scenario 2

o Build a new K-4
o Pioneer – Grade 5-8
o WCHS – Grade 9-12

Scenario 3

o Build a new K-3
o Pioneer – Grade 4-7
o WCHS – Grade 8-12

The virtual meeting is intended to give the community an opportunity to provide feedback and ask questions.

Google meet link: meet.google.com/pmq-axwm-mrn

Please submit questions to this link.