Questions and Answers
What are the details of this initiative?
Government will construct a large number of new schools at one time. This new approach to building schools will result in the construction of more schools, more quickly, and at a reduced cost to taxpayers. Government will consolidate the design and construction of 18 new schools. The contractor will design, build, and maintain the new schools using a Public-Private Partnership (P3) model. The pilot project criteria includes K-4, K-6 and K-9 school configurations only.
Where will these schools be built?
The schools will be located in Edmonton and Calgary. Specific school sites were determined in consultation with school boards.
Why only Edmonton and Calgary?
Edmonton and Calgary were selected because the number of schools required is large enough and in close enough proximity for a consolidated school construction approach to be successful.
What about new schools in other areas of the province?
This pilot project is one strategy the Government of Alberta is pursuing. New school construction in other areas of the province continues to be a priority and will be addressed through the capital planning process. We are looking at a variety of strategies to address school infrastructure needs.
Who will own and operate the new schools?
The new schools would be owned, controlled and operated by the school boards. Use and access to the new schools would be managed like existing schools.
Will the construction quality be a problem?
All schools will meet provincial standards and will be built to achieve LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver certification, an independent rating system used to measure environmental efficiency. The new schools will use a standard core school design, including a common core of administration offices, library and gymnasium.
What is a core school design?
Core schools are designed with a permanent central space that includes a gymnasium, library, administration offices, classrooms, specialty classrooms, such as a music room, art room and Career and Technology labs. In response to changes in enrolment, high performance modular classrooms can be added and removed as required.
