Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS) will be getting a face lift, after being approved for modernization by the provincial government.
“We are thrilled, beyond thrilled, we're getting a modernization,” said principal Corey Baker. “It's a huge day for our community, it's a huge day for BCHS and for Northern Lights Public Schools.”
The announcement is one that the Bonnyville public high school has been waiting for, sitting on the Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) three-year capital plan for a number of years. In 2014, after Cold Lake Elementary School was approved for replacement, BCHS became the top capital priority for the division.
Last week, on March 21, the Government of Alberta revealed the list of 26 school projects that will benefit from the $500 million allocated in the 2017 provincial budget. Of those, seven are modernizations, nine replacements, and eight are brand new schools.
“With all of the growth that has been occurring in Alberta and the high demand for schools and modernizations, Northern Lights is very grateful to have been included in this year's capital announcements,” said board chair Mandi Skogen. “We are very excited about the programming opportunities that will be available for students once the school is modernized.”
The modernization will help tackle the growing need for additional space at the school. Baker explained that with enrolment sitting around 400 students, and expected to approach the 500 range in the near future, the growth is continuing to “push the limits of what this building can withstand.”
Upgrades will also allow them to offer enhanced programming for students, beyond what they're currently limited to now.
“The building was constructed in the early 70s. With the technology and 21st century learning that we're trying to instill in our students, it's a little challenging in our current state of affairs,” said Baker.
“Even just to refresh the look and get some windows in this place is huge – we hear that from our students all the time.”
Originally, BCHS was on the NLPS three-year capital plan as a replacement school. Earlier this year, the board of trustees participated in a value scoping session with Alberta Education and local stakeholders to evaluate the project and other options. After much discussion, it was decided that a modernization of the existing school would adequately address the needs, instead of a replacement.
“That was an interesting process, to sit down with community members and weigh the pros and cons of a modernization versus a new school. When push came to shove, the modernization allows us more space and more room for our kids. That was the biggest deciding factor in my mind,” noted Baker.
Skogen agreed, “There are certainly benefits to building a new school versus renovating an existing facility, however, we are cognizant of the current financial constraints that exist and we are confident that a modernization at BCHS will address our needs.”
According to NLPS secretary-treasurer Paula Elock, based on the costing from the value scoping session, they're look at a cost of $19.3 million for the modernization.
Included in that is redesigning the overall safety and security of the school to remove hidden pockets, opening up the student gathering space to create a learning commons areas, adding four new classrooms – two will be new and two will be created from repurposing existing space, and using the existing stage to create a black box for drama or band. The modernization will also see a new, larger gymnasium built, and the Lyle Victor Albert Centre demolished. The plan is to convert the existing gym into a performing arts space, however, the government won't cover the cost for that project.
“They would leave the space there for us to go ahead and make the modifications after or during, but that would be in addition to the $19.3 million. We'll have to fundraise, or work with the Bonnyville Fine Arts Society, the town, or whomever, to turn (the old gym) into a performing arts centre,” explained Elock.
NLPS is still waiting for their official approval letter. Once they have that in hand, Elock said they'll know more of the details about when meetings will get underway and the overall timeline of the project. For their two most recent builds, J.A. Williams School in Lac La Biche and Cold Lake Elementary, the start-up meetings came within three to four months of the funding announcement.
“It's always very nice to be on the list of projects; it's nice to see something for the public school division in Bonnyville. Last year we had asked for a replacement school for BCHS, but a modernization to the tune of $19.3 million is a significant modernization.”
With another capital priority checked off the top of their list, the NLPS board reevaluated their three-year capital plan at the March 22 meeting. Trustees decided the best option at this time was to move existing projects up on the list, making a modernization of École Plamondon the new No. 1 capital priority.
During discussion, vice-chair Arlene Hrynyk noted that while they're required to prioritize capital projects, the board will continue to advocate to the province the issues that creates.
“For a long period of time we've been trying to impress upon them the challenge of our large geographical area; the fact that we're so far apart in terms of communities. We may have concurrent needs in each geographical community, but at the end of the day we still have to pick a No. 1 priority.”
A new elementary school for Lac La Biche is now in the second spot, followed by a new school for Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement, and a modernization of Iron River School.
