Racette School future home to East Central Francophone students
Modernization planned for St. Paul Board's École Élémentaire
St. Paul … Work will soon begin on the modernization and expansion of Racette Junior High School in St. Paul following an agreement between the Government of Alberta and East Central Francophone Education Region (ECFER)."This is a positive move forward in the delivery of francophone education in the region," said Minister of Education, Gene Zwozdesky. "The project will meet the needs of the local francophone community."
Racette School will become home to francophone students currently attending École du Sommet. Upon completion, the school will have space for approximately 445 students.
"We're very pleased for our francophone community," said ECFER board of education chairman Reginald Roy. "Students in kindergarten to Grade 12 will have a much larger, modernized facility."
The proposed project will include a larger gymnasium and library, additional classrooms, and access to Career and Technology Studies labs. The innovative K-12 design will create distinct areas for K-3; 4-6; 7-9; and 10-12 students.
A typical project of this size can take about 18 months to complete. The estimated cost of the project is $6.8 million. Construction details will be finalized and jointly determined by the school region and provincial government officials
"It's my hope that this agreement is a step toward the St. Paul solution and one that will meet the needs of the community," said Ray Danyluk, MLA for Lac La Biche-St. Paul, adding, "This project will have economic and educational value for the St. Paul region."
Students currently attending Racette will transfer to the École Élémentaire St. Paul Elementary School, which will be expanded and upgraded to accommodate kindergarten-Grade 9 students. The renovated school will have space for 815 elementary/junior high school students.
The East Central Francophone board serves school communities in St. Paul, Plamondon, Cold Lake and Bonnyville.
Backgrounder
Alberta Education will fund the Racette Junior High School modernization/addition at an estimated cost of $6.8 million, including $1.75 million in funding announced in August of 2004, as part of an agreement between the Alberta government and East Central Francophone Education Region (ECFER). The agreement creates the following changes in configuration.- St. Paul Education Regional Division (SPERD) students who currently attend Racette School (current enrolment is 290 students in Grades 6-9) will transfer to École Élémentaire St. Paul Elementary School. This school, which currently accommodates 400 SPERD students in kindergarten to Grade 5, will be expanded and upgraded to accommodate 815 kindergarten to Grade 9 students.
- Racette School will be transferred from SPERD to ECFER and will become home to students currently attending École du Sommet. École du Sommet currently accommodates 127 East Central Francophone students in kindergarten to Grade 12. A portion of the existing École du Sommet will be demolished and the remaining facility will be made available to the East Central Francophone board for administration offices.
- Construction is under way at the replacement facility for the St. Paul school board's Glen Avon School, which has a current enrolment of 498 students in kindergarten to Grade 9. The replacement school is located on a new site adjacent to the St. Paul Regional High School. When opened, it will accommodate approximately 725 kindergarten to Grade 9 SPERD students.
- St. Paul Regional High School (SPERD) accommodates 470 St. Paul school board students in Grades 10 to 12.
