$1.00 INCL GST
Okotoks lights up
- photo by Cindy Ballance
Christ the Redeemer School Division makes another plea for Okotoks school
By
Editor
Christ the Redeemer School Division will again make another plea for a new school to be built in Okotoks as the school's population continues to burst at the seams.
Originally, the division made an application for funding for a new elementary school in the Davisburg area but due to increasing space problems at the senior high level the board made a motion to seek funding for a high school.
The board approved the motion at its regular meeting held at Holy Trinity Academy in Okotoks on Saturday.
Superintendent Peter Doyle explained that essentially the division has just flip-flopped its priorities and will still be seeking an additional elementary school in four or five years.
But for now, he explained, the pressing need is to alleviate the space crunches at the division's sole high school in the area.
'We are getting up to 180 to 200 students per grade level,' Doyle explained. 'All our schools are overcrowded.
Present enrolments have increased substantially over last year. There are currently 3,755 students in the division's traditional schools which is an increase of 12.7 per cent over last year. Adding in the non-traditional school enrolment which includes programs such as Okotoks Home Schooling, St. Paul's Virtual School and Okotoks Distance Education, there is a total of 5,125 — an increase of 13.7 per cent.
'That rate of growth is exhilarating, but it has brought about a number of challenges not the least of which is facilities,' said Doyle.
To order to cope with the increasing enrolment, five portables have already been added to Good Shepherd School and St. Mary's School in Okotoks.
However, two additional portables have been requested by Good Shepherd. 'The population has increased even greater than anticipated,' said Doyle. 'Good Shepherd is overcrowded. They are using a staff room as a classroom.'
It is hoped that the two additional portables will provide some relief to the situation, but added that the situation is becoming critical.
'We find ourselves scrambling every year to accommodate additional students,' he said.
Doyle said he is optimistic that the board will receive word from the province quickly in order to have an additional school built by 2004.
Rural hospitals not in danger of closing
By
Staff reporter
With a decision looming about the fate of Headwaters Health Authority boundaries, local residents are concerned that rural municipalities are going to get lost in the system.
Highwood MLA Don Tannas said his phone has been 'ringing off the hook' with concerned residents inquiring about the fate of rural hospitals.
Rumors include the myth that Oilfields Hospital in Black Diamond and High River Hospital are going to eventually be turned into long-term care facilities if the initial proposed changes are made. The changes include integrating most of Headwaters into the Calgary Health Region.
'At this point in time, to my knowledge, rural hospitals are going to be utilized even more than they are now. Calgary has a shortage of hospital beds. They need Oilfields. They need High River. They need Strathmore,' Tannas said.
Approximately three weeks ago, a map was sent out from Health Minister Gary Mar outlining the eight proposed health regions. The map suggested Okotoks, Black Diamond, Turner Valley, Longview and High River become part of the Calgary Health Region.
Tannas has met with Mar and said this map is not definite.
'I don't know how it will turn out. The number of health regions could remain status quo, there could be eight, there could be two,' Tannas said.
However, he said there will be no changes until most, if not all, of the rural MLAs agree on a plan.
'The discussions (this week) will be about how to best administer health care and better deliver health care,' he said.
Tannas said he is aware of several proposals for the health region boundary changes which will be discussed in caucus this week.
Current Weather in Okotoks
|
In this issue... |
||
|
|
||
