The Chinook’s Edge School Division’s three-year Capital Plan has a new Grade 10-12 high school in Sylvan Lake as the number one priority.
The Capital Plan was approved by the division’s board during the board meeting on March 12.
When it comes to which projects are prioritized, the division uses an evaluation rubric that considers historical enrollment trends, current utilization rates, and projected growth.
With the growing population in Sylvan Lake, pressure is expected at the high school level, Chinook’s Edge School Division communications coordinator Laurette Woodward said.
“We are projecting that Ecole H.J. Cody School will be at 111 per cent capacity in three years. The total capacity of all our schools in Sylvan Lake will be approaching 100 per cent by 2027-2028.”
The division is hopeful the province will fund the high school project soon, she added.
“The board has been advocating to MLAs in the area to build awareness of the context.”
The proposal to the province is for a 975-student capacity school for students from Grades 10-12.
The new high school would also be a collegiate model high school in partnership with the Red Deer Catholic School Division, the Town of Sylvan Lake, and other post-secondary partners, Woodward said.
“The school would have shared space for all partners with the Chinook’s Edge High School attached on one side and the Red Deer Catholic High School attached on the other side.”
Members of the board and senior leaders with the Chinook’s Edge School Division will meet with the Town on March 26 to discuss ways the division and Town can work together.
The full capital plan can be found on the Chinook’s Edge School Division’s website, www.cesd73.ca/download/443971.
A new school for Sylvan Lake was not included in the Alberta Government’s 2024 budget.