School Accelerator Program Results in Changes to the Parkside Jr High School Construction Project
At the public board meeting on November 26, 2024, the Prairie Rose Public Schools Board of Trustees passed a motion to change the capital project request for a modernization of the current Parkside Jr High School to a new school facility located in the new Eastside Subdivision development of Redcliff.
Approved Motion: That the Board of Trustees of Prairie Rose Public Schools request a change in the Redcliff Capital Project to the design and construction of a new school to be located on the Eastside Subdivision of Redcliff as per the Eastside Area Structure Plan.
In early October, PRPS received construction funding for the modernization of Parkside Jr High School. Later that month, the province announced the School Construction Accelerator Program, and the board engaged in conversations with the Town of Redcliff, Alberta Education, and Alberta Infrastructure to investigate the possibility of a new school instead of the modernization. Based on those conversations, it was determined that a modification to the plan could be beneficial to all parties.
“This change in plans provides mutual advantages,” says Redcliff Trustee Pam Cursons. “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 was scheduled. Redcliff Council benefits by developing a new area of the town and attracting new families to the community.”
As is outlined in the School Construction Accelerator Program requirements, the Town of Redcliff is responsible for completing the servicing to the new school location which includes subdivision, road construction and utilities. As this work has not yet been started, the Town will require time to get this infrastructure in place before construction can begin at the new site. The estimated timeline for completion of that work is August 31, 2025.
“Understandably some in the community will be disappointed by the project delay and the extended time required to get the servicing in place,” says Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser. “However receiving funding for a new junior high school means Redcliff will have a state of the art new learning facility for students designed with the priorities identified by the Redcliff community. These include 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 the three Redcliff schools, however Prairie Rose has asked that the new junior high school built under specifications to ensure future growth can be accommodated in Redcliff.