It’s an extra few days of summer holidays for students at Rocky Christian School and École Rocky Elementary following an asbestos discovery.
According to an update from Wild Rose School Division (WRSD), students at École Rocky Elementary will begin classes Friday Sept. 5, while Rocky Christian students will begin as soon as a temporary learning space can be set up.
This past summer, the Rocky Christian School Society undertook an expansion and renovation project on the school building, which is owned by the society and leased by WRSD.
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The project was running behind schedule, and in a collaborative decision, WRSD and the Rocky Christian School Society determined the building would not be ready to open for the start of the school year.
As a result, plans were made to temporarily house Rocky Christian School students and staff at École Rocky Elementary.
On Friday, Aug. 29, the division was informed that testing undertaken by the Rocky Christian School Society confirmed the presence of asbestos in areas of the Rocky Christian School building that were disturbed during renovations.
This has resulted in the full closure of the building until professional remediation is completed.
At the time, WRSD had further concerns that items, including boxes and furnishings, that were brought over to École Rocky Friday afternoon, prior to knowing about the asbestos, may have asbestos present on them.
Indeed, according to a Sept. 2 update, the division reported that traces of asbestos were identified in specific rooms containing items that were moved from Rocky Christian School to École Rocky Elementary.
Officials say the start date for Rocky Christian School students will be communicated once it has a better understanding of what the school staff require to set up their learning spaces and be ready for students.
Summer upgrades to Rocky Christian School include an additional classroom, gym change rooms, a viewing area for the gymnasium, a redesigned parking lot with parent drop off loop and more.
WRSD is thanking the school communities for its patience and support during this “unusual” school startup.
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