St. Paul Education Regional Division board trustees and administration voiced their concern and frustrations regarding the still not complete Two Hills Mennonite School project.
Although students have been attending the school since September of 2017, outdoor work around the school is ongoing, and has resulted in an obvious mess, with students tracking in mud as they come and go for recess.
Two pictures were displayed during the Oct. 10 monthly board meeting.
"I do think these two photos speak more than any volume of words," said SPERD board chair Heather Starosielski.
When bringing up the issue, Superintendent Glen Brodziak said "very little work was actually done over the summer," which was when work was scheduled to take place.
The contractor involved is responsible for putting sod in disrupted areas, which has yet to take place. The result is a muddy mess as student re-enter the school after playing outdoors. Meanwhile, sod had already been put down in some areas around the new Ashmont School - a much more recent project.
The construction of a new Two Hills Mennonite School was originally announced in 2012. Construction began in 2013, but was stalled as issues arose. An artesian well was discovered on the site, along with low levels of methane gas.
Even after delays, an estimated completion date for the school was set for January 2017, and outside work would be done later that year, according to a story published in the St. Paul Journal, November of 2015. The school itself was only complete in time for students to start the 2017-18 school year in the facility.
With a wet and cold fall having already arrived this year, it looks like the completion date for outdoor work could now be pushed into 2019.
While Starosielski noted the Ashmont School project was fortunate to not have the same issues that the Two Hills project experienced, at this point, the division simply isn't satisfied with where the project is at.
SPERD representatives have been at every site meeting and have been doing their part throughout the process, "yet, this is still what we're looking at," said Starosielski, as she gestured to the photos on display.
SPERD staff, students and parents have been caught in the middle of the situation, said Starosielski
"Can you imagine what our staff and students have been going through?" asked SPERD board trustee Ruven Rajoo, adding, the community isn't going to accept some "lip service."
"This is not acceptable," stated Brodziak, adding, the situation is taxing on the division's maintenance department also. Staff will now have to be pulled from other areas to ensure the muddy situation is dealt with in some way. The division was looking at bringing gravel in and laying down plywood.
A result at the school in response to the many delays has been a decrease in enrolment. The school was once one of the province's fastest growing schools, and the new school was built to accommodate 600 students.
This year, enrolment has dropped to 516 students. In 2016/17 the school had 540 students. Then, in 2017/18 there were 520 students. This year's projection was set for 538 students, according to Brodziak.
Brodziak says the division has been directly told that families have sought alternate routes for their children's education because of the issues at the new school.
Following discussions, the SPERD board of trustees passed a motion to send letters to the local MLA, provincials ministers, and Premier Rachel Notley.
The question of writing a letter of apology to parents was also brought up, and while the school division maintains it has done its part in educating students and being involved in the process, a letter will go out to every parent.
Alberta Education
When asked for an update on the current situation, Press Secretary Jennifer Burgess, Office of the Minister for Seniors and Housing/Infrastructure, responded via email, and said, "Safety and accessibility for students in our schools is a priority for Alberta Infrastructure."
She noted that work on the parking lot, landscaping and west bus loop is underway and expected to be complete by the end of 2018.
She added that since students have been in the new school since September 2017, as part of the construction project an access path was installed.
"The muddy conditions resulted from use of a different entrance where no path was originally intended; however, a temporary gravel path is being installed today to help alleviate these concerns until the rest of the outdoor work is complete," she confirmed.
"Alberta Infrastructure’s exterior work was delayed due to the (Town of Two Hills') installation of a storm sewer next to the school, and design changes to the west bus loop that the school board requested," said Burgess.
