The move is on for Annie L. Gaetz Elementary students.
Parents learned that their children will relocate to Central Campus at a meeting on Thursday night.
The move is necessary in order to allow the school $5.2-million modernization project to move ahead. The Red Deer Public School District looked at various teaching scenarios after it was apparent it would be challenging to run the school while the project was underway.
Moving materials and equipment will take place during the Thanksgiving weekend.
Classes at Annie L. Gaetz will be cancelled on Oct. 14 and 15, in addition to the Thanksgiving break, to allow teachers to unpack and set up the school.
The temporary school will open on Oct. 16.
For the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year, the 305 students and 32 staffers will be relocated to the campus on 48th Avenue and 53rd Street.
Busing will be provided to students within the Annie L. Gaetz attendance area, which includes Morrisroe, Morrisroe Extension, Deer Park and Devonshire. The bus routes have not been determined yet.
Families who require busing for their children must complete an application form. They must be returned by Tuesday to allow for route planning. The routes are expected to be determined by Oct. 7.
School district superintendent Piet Langstraat said that it was clear that parents wanted the school population to remain together in one location. The district looked at moving some classes to the Church of Nazarene and keeping the remaining classes at Annie L. Gaetz.
The modernization project is expected to be finished in time for the 2015-2016 school year.
Langstraat said he was very pleased with the support from the parents.
“They understand what needs to occur and they are very supportive of moving head,” he said.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com