PWPSD says Whispering Ridge Community School, Peace Wapiti Academy, and Beaverlodge Elementary School all need modular classrooms.

By Curtis Galbraith

Schools

PWPSD says overall enrollments down, modulars still needed at some schools

Oct 28, 2020 | 6:00 AM

The Peace Wapiti Public School Division says current enrollment sits at 5,070 students, a two per cent decrease from a year ago.

Deputy Superintendent Darren Young says this was not a total surprise, given the economy and COVID-19.

“We were expecting a flat enrollment growth this year, so neither an increase nor a decrease, but it came in a little bit under. Talking to our schools, some of our families and students have moved away. With COVID-19, a lot of families have chosen homeschooling as an option, especially if there are any concerns around medical conditions or what have you.”

While overall enrollment was down, some schools did see their numbers go up. There was an increase of 46 students at Whispering Ridge Community School, 15 each at Harry Balfour and Sexsmith Secondary, and 14 at Bonanza School.

The Division will be asking the province for modular classroom additions to three of its schools.

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Young says that includes Whispering Ridge, which is only two years old.

“We’re requesting four modulars for Whispering Ridge to, hopefully, keep pace with the projected enrollment growth at that school. Next year, we’re projecting that school to be anywhere between 98 per cent and 102 per cent utilization, just given our past enrollment growth in the area.”

The Division is also asking for four replacements at Beaverlodge Elementary School. The current ones, which were only meant to last for 30 years, are now 40 years old.

Two more modulars would go to Peace Wapiti Academy, as it’s expected to reach 100 per cent capacity by 2022, given current enrollments at the five junior high schools.

A new Grade 9 to 12 high school tops the priority list for new schools with Peace Wapiti.

The hope is to build it near Five Mile Hall.

The next two items on the list are a new K to 9 in the southwest Clairmont area and a replacement for Peace Wapiti Academy.

“Having another school to help take some of the enrollment pressure off of that building will be key until we get suitable land for a replacement to the north of Grande Prairie, somewhere in the southwest Clairmont area, hopefully,” adds Young.

A replacement for Harry Balfour School has already been approved for the Five Mile Hall area.

The projects list also includes a modernization of the Bonanza School.