School Facility Update
On Wednesday of last week, Premier Prentice announced funding for the third phase of a 10-year school capital build-out. Phase 3 includes funds for the planning and design of 55 new and expanded schools, as well as for the planning of 20 school modernizations. A short statement on the Alberta Education website identifies New Horizons School as being among those for which funding has been provided, with the statement reading as follows:
• School District: New Horizons Charter School
• Project Type: Modernize former St. Theresa School
A follow-up telephone conversation with Alberta Education officials has provided some limited additional information regarding the meaning of this brief announcement. Funds have evidently been set aside to enable our school to begin planning for a major modernization of the former St Theresa School. As we understand it, this planning process will include the participation of architects and other professional planning personnel; we also understand that this planning process will begin soon. This is exciting news for our school, in that it will enable us to develop modernization plans that go well beyond those associated with the minor renovations that are presently being undertaken at our new school by Alberta Infrastructure.
Parents and other members of the New Horizons School community should keep in mind that these funds are intended for planning only; funds to support the actual major modernization have not yet been provided. Note also that we have not been advised of any specific amount of funds (the intent being to minimize the extent to which funding announcements influence the bidding process).
Nevertheless, we see this announcement as a hopeful sign that funds for a major modernization for our new school facility will be forthcoming at a point in the not too distant future.
Additional information regarding the recent announcement about school capital funding can be found online at http://education.alberta.ca/department/ipr/capitalplanning/newschools2013.aspx.
We will also share new information as it is received from Alberta Education.
Don Falk – Superintendent
October 14, 2014
