After months of trying to find a suitable location for a larger school, Greater North Francophone Education Region has successfully returned to its first choice.
On Monday, Red Deer city council unanimously endorsed land rezoning so the school board could build at its current location at 4810 35 St.
The francophone school board will now have clearance to build a kindergarten to Grade 12 school directly south of its aging École La Prairie school. It will end up being demolished in 2014.
A total of 123 students attend the current school, including 17 students in Grade 9. The new school will be able to grow to 300 students.
School trustee Nicole Lorrain was elated with council’s decision.
“This is an absolute relief for us,” said Lorrain outside council chambers.
Lorrain said it’s also reassuring the school project will fit in with the public-private partnership construction bundle involving three other Red Deer area schools. The province was seeking a decision so it could get moving with the tendering process. The schools will open for the 2014-15 school year.
Lorrain said the school board will put together a final package over the next couple of weeks. That information will be necessary to acquire building permit approval from the city.
“And then it’s officially done,” she said.
The plan is to have the school open in the fall of 2014, although there has been some promise from the province it could be finished a little earlier, Lorrain said.
The francophone school board had looked at its original location at the start but was told it was too small, particularly with city lands directly next to it. It eyed Anders East and Aspen Ridge locations, the latter becoming very controversial among the neighbourhood.
City council rejected that site along Addington Drive in March, which meant the city, francophone board and provincial authorities had to find a quick alternative.
Some planning changes within the Kin Canyon recreational area proved to make a big difference.
Lorrain said the school will have a high school sized gym that the entire community will be able to use. Plus meeting rooms will be accessible to the public, she said.
“Originally when the school was announced a year ago, we thought we were building there (at the existing site),” said Lorrain. “So the parents are thrilled. It’s close to the downtown, the trails and lots of great stuff.”
Council had to approve reconfiguring the Kin Canyon Concept Plan, create a Direct Control district which gives council approving authority, and provide up to $20,000 from the capital project reserve towards relocating and building a rink.
This district would cover the school and city-owned parcels. It gives residents assurance that park land within the area would be preserved, plus it accommodates a future community centre.
The city will maintain ownership of the parcel of land and there will be no loss of parkland or trails. The two rinks will run north-south as opposed to one running east-west. The community shelter will be revisited in 2020-2021 for potential replacement. The playground will move closer south to the school and the Kinsmen shelter will remain at its current location.
ltester@www.reddeeradvocate.com