Wild Rose School Division (WRSD) board of trustees unanimously approved its 2027-2030 capital plan, with big potential changes in Rocky Mountain House included once again.

As in years past, the plan’s top priority includes the demolition of Lochearn Elementary School and École Rocky Elementary buildings, with students from both eventually attending a new school at the Lochearn site.

Priority 3 is the modernization of Caroline School.

The other two top priorities concern projects in Drayton Valley including modernization of Aurora Elementary School (Priority 2), and modernization of Frank Maddock High School (Priority 4).

However, WRSD Superintendent Jodie Mattia cautions, there are hundreds of project requests made to the Alberta government each year, so it doesn’t necessarily mean the projects will move ahead in the near term.

“There are other areas in our province where school capacity is over 120 per cent — so those end up being the priority for the government” says Mattia. “We remain hopeful, but we do not anticipate being top-of-list.”

WRSD superintendent Jodie Mattia speaking to the probability of WRSD priorities been green-lit by the Alberta government

 

The capital plans were approved with a number of guiding principals including improving buildings conditions, contributing to community renewal, and allowing for facilities that support 21st century learning and program delivery.

School divisions across the province identify three year capital plans that must be submitted to Alberta Education and Childcare annually by April 1.

If a project is approved, the local school board, Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure would then work together on the details of the project to help ensure it meets students’ needs.

The projects in Rocky have been on WRSD’s capital plan list as early as 2024.

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RELATED

• Division proposes new school, plus demolition of Lochearn Elementary School and École Rocky Elementary schools
• Caroline School a top priority in Wild Rose School Division capital plan

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The École Rocky Elementary school building was completed in 1948, with seven renovation projects completed between 1950 and 2006.

The Lochearn building was constructed in the 1960s. While a 2024 Rocky Mountain House Schools Value Management report indicated the Lochearn building was in slightly better shape than École Rocky Elementary, it also indicated the school suffered from chronic underutilization of around 75 per cent.

Mattia says while there is generally enough of space for students, the age of the buildings is the main factor in seeking new builds.

Similar struggles were identified at the 70-year-old Caroline School. That includes low enrollment at just over 60 per cent.

The capital plan report from the division touts recent and ongoing success of WRSD construction and modernization projects. That includes construction on four replacement schools — Charlotte Small Elementary School and David Thompson High School in Condor and Leslieville. The other new build was Drayton Valley’s Powerhouse Campus which combined HW Pickup Junior High and Drayton Christian School.

A modernization project at Breton Keystone School is currently in the construction stage. Mattia says work is continuing on the interior and exterior work of the updated space, with tentative plans to have students in the building fall 2026.

 

 

In the meantime, the board has approved measures to support French immersion programming in Rocky Mountain House. This includes adding Grade 6 to École Rocky Elementary, allowing for a combined Grade 5-6 class at that school and a Grade 7-8 split at Pioneer Middle School.

Officials say the change effectively reinstates the Grade 8 level of the program, which had previously been suspended.

Transportation will also be provided to allow Grade 6 students to participate in the band program at Pioneer.