Provincial program leads Prairie Rose and Redcliff to ask for new school, as opposed to planned Parkside modernization

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on November 27, 2024.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Working together with the Town of Redcliff, Prairie Rose Public Schools has decided to request a change in plans for the future of schools in Redcliff.

A modernization project for Parkside School was initially announced in early October, but since then, the province announced the School Construction Accelerator Program. With this new possibility, and ongoing discussion with the town, Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure, the idea of a change in plans arose.

Currently, the space selected, as per the East Side Area Structure Plan, still requires service from the town to have necessary utilities ran into the lot, as the Accelerator Funding cannot cover that work, explained PRPS, but once that is completed, it would be possible to build a new school in the area.

It is expected that this work will be completed by the end of August 2025.

“This change in plans provides mutual advantages,” says Redcliff trustee Pam Cursons in a letter sent out to parents. “Prairie Rose will be able to provide students with the benefits of a new school and avoid the need to find a place for students during the 2025-2026 school year when construction (at Parkside) was scheduled. Redcliff Council benefits by developing a new area of the town and attracting new families to the community.”

Should the request be approved by the province, it would cause a delay in the project, but would offer more opportunities for the students who will attend the new school, said town CFO Ryan Boser, such as a larger gymnasium, spectator seating, the ability to host tournaments and enhanced CTS learning space for science, trades and additional options courses.

Additional information will be shared with the Redcliff community once it is available. The change of request will not impact the current grade configurations of Redcliff’s three schools.

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