Increases K-9 space, preserves existing high school campus and plans for future growth
The Foothills School Division (FSD) and the Town of Okotoks (Okotoks) have mutually agreed to construct a kindergarten to grade 9 (K-9) school on a portion of the recently purchased 40 acre Wedderburn site, just west of 32nd Street. The plan, which is subject to final provincial approval, addresses the division’s immediate need for more K-9 classrooms serving Okotoks and area, and will enable École Secondaire Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts (ÉFCHS/AHSFA) to continue functioning as a high school campus.
“On behalf of our Board, I want to thank the Town of Okotoks, the M.D. of Foothills, and the Province for working with us and supporting our need for school sites now and in the future. Previous plans approved by our Board were identified based on information and school site options available to us at the time,” said Christine Pretty, Chair, FSD Board of Trustees.
Okotoks confirms that servicing of the 32nd Street site is readily available and construction is projected to begin in early fall 2016. It typically takes 16 to 32 months to construct a school. The initial draft concept plan has the K-9 school located further west on the 40 acre parcel, which would preserve 20 acres for a future high school and other community needs.
Mayor Bill Robertson stated, “Working together with Foothills School Division, we have arrived at a great plan that benefits the community, its students and their families. We look forward to continuing to work with all of our educational partners to prepare for the anticipated growth in the community.”
With the full support of the Town of Okotoks, FSD will now work with the Government of Alberta to adjust the divisional capital plan to provide for construction of the new K-9 school and modernize ÉFCHS/AHSFA as originally planned to increase capacity and upgrade learning spaces to support programming.
With this joint plan between the school division and the Town, FSD will put plans for a school at Aldersyde on hold.
FSD and the Town of Okotoks thank school families, the M.D. of Foothills, the Alberta Government and other community partners for their support as they worked to develop a collaborative plan to address current classroom needs within Okotoks public schools, and begin work on the creation of a joint, long term school plan to meet future needs.