Foothills School Division is looking for more input on proposed changes to attendance boundaries for schools in Okotoks.
“We’re still gathering data, we don’t want to make any kind of decision based on one meeting,” said Drew Chipman, division assistant superintendent-corporate services. “We want to look at on-line surveys and wait until this meeting — we don’t want to jump to any conclusions based on one meeting.
The division is hosting a meeting on Jan. 22 at Okotoks Junior High School at 7 p.m. about the proposed boundary changes. Schools with attendance rates at full capacity, in particular Westmount School in southwest Okotoks, has prompted the board to look at the boundaries.
Westmount School, which opened in the fall of 2012, has an enrolment of around 817 students and a utilization rate of 111 per cent. The school has been forced to set up classrooms in the library due to a lack of space.
The last time school boundary changes were made was prior to Westmount School opening in 2012. Prior to that was in 2006 when Heritage Heights opened.
The Jan. 22 meeting will have the same format as a meeting in December. Those attending will be asked to consider five scenarios and provide further input.
Those scenarios are:
• Making Big Rock School a K-3 School and Westmount a 4-9 school. Move all current Big Rock rural students to Dr. Morris Gibson School.
• Elementary school students living south of Big Rock Trail to Westmount Road, move students to Big Rock School. No change to junior high schools
• Elementary school students living on east side of Cimarron Drive and north side of Cimarron Boulevard to Big Rock school. No change to junior high boundaries.
• Students living on east side of Cimarron Drive and north and south of Cimarron Boulevard, move K-6 students to Big Rock and Grade 7-9 to Okotoks Junior High School.
• Move all junior high school students to Okotoks Junior High School and make Westmount a K-6 School.
“We will share some of the input that we received and provide people the chance to give us more input,” Chipman.
Boundary changes are not guaranteed to happen and the five-elected trustees will make the final decision after public consultation.
“We certainly anticipate making some changes for this fall, but I would not say it is 100 per cent a done deal,” Chipman said.
However, the division anticipates Westmount’s enrolment will grow in the fall.
Westmount has received permission from the Town of Okotoks to add two new portables on the west end of the school. However, the Alberta government does not have any available.
The province announced in October a new K-9 public school for Okotoks is planned, however it is unknown where or when it will be built.
As well as discussing the five scenarios, options concerning a new school will also be on the table. Options to be discussed include: if the division is unable to get a school site in Okotoks, should it proceed with either a K-6 school or K-9 school adjacent to the MD/Town Aldersyde Recreation Complex? What is the preferred site for another Okotoks and area high school? Aldersyde or if in Okotoks, which area of town?
For more statistics and information about potential boundary changes go to www.fsd38.ab.ca
