Bag 9, Okotoks, Alberta T01 1T0
$1.00 INCL GST
On the Range
The long ride heads over the range during
the seventh annual Millarville Ride for STARS held at the Rocky Mountain Ranch near
Millarville on the weekend. The event features hundreds of horses and riders galloping
through the vast terrain of the Foothills in the long and short rise and hunt. All
the proceeds from the event go to keeping the STARS Air Ambulance in the sky.
photo by Cindy Ballance
Foothills School Division is experiencing high enrolment
By Gillian Beckett
Staff Reporter
Preliminary enrolment figures for this year have indicated a range of peaks and valleys for schools within the Foothills School Division.
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'The numbers are definitely up in the Okotoks area,' said division superintendent David Lynn. 'Generally, enrolment has held steady in High River and the west-end.'
Lynn attributed the growth in secondary schools such as Foothills Composite High School (FCHS) in Okotoks, which is up to 945 students compared with last year's total of 925, and more substantially Oilfields High School in Black Diamond, which is up 42 students from last year, to families with older children moving into the MD of Foothills.
'We seem to be no longer in the position where we are seeing elementary students outnumbering secondary students,' said Lynn. 'More families with older kids are moving into the area -- the majority of school systems are finding smaller rates (of enrolment) of younger kids.'
Despite the decrease in enrolment for elementary schools in the Okotoks, High River and west-end areas, other elementary and secondary schools are operating at full or over capacity.
According to enrolment statistics, 85 per cent is the ideal utilization rate for all schools, however, schools such as Big Rock Elementary School, Dr. Morris Gibson School and Okotoks Junior High School are approximately two to three per cent over utilization whereas Longview School is operating at 90 per cent utilization and Oilfields High School is at 102 per cent utilization.
'Schools are considered full at 85 per cent capacity,' said Lynn. 'Students in some schools like Oilfields High School are jammed in like sardines.'
Lynn explained that in order to compensate for high enrolment, adjustments to staff were made earlier in the year which saw schools with high enrolments gain additional staff from schools with lower enrolment.
'Some schools have also had relocatable buildings added to hold classes,' said Lynn who described relocatables as semi-permanent buildings.
In cases such as Big Rock Elementary which is filled over capacity by about 10 students and Percy Pegler Elementary which has 64 seats left to fill, Lynn said that new students living south of the Sheep River in Okotoks are being bused to Percy Pegler Elementary School.
While Lynn admits the Foothills School Division is deficient in space for the secondary grades, he said that recent concerns about FCHS being over capacity next year is not the case.
'FCHS won't be over capacity next year,' said Lynn. 'We're a good two or three years down the road before we need to ask for additional space (at FCHS).'
The final enrolment count is expected to be tallied by Sept. 30.
Council undecided on community centre fate
By Cindy Ballance
Editor
Okotoks council did not come to a decision on the fate of the Foothills Community Centre Monday night.
After deliberating for some time on what will happen to the centre following last Monday's plebiscite outcome, council postponed a decision until further information can be received.
It was recommended that in order to secure the building against weather and vandalism until the Foothills Community Centre Foundation raises enough funds to continue construction on the facility, $400,000 is needed.
Administration recommended that the $400,000 be advanced from the town's accumulative surplus to secure the building. The town would then enter into an agreement with the foundation that would state any monies raised from the advance of funds would be used to pay back the advance.
'In order to responsibly secure the partially completed building against intrusion, vandalism and the effects of weather; in other words to protect an investment of $1.5 million and permit the foundation and the administration to jointly pursue fund raising; additional work must be completed,' said municipal manager Will Pearce.
'Our full intent is to recover the $400,000,' he added.
Pearce explained that not advancing the money and locking up the facility may cause irreversible damage.
'Allowing a building, built like this, to freeze at its current state is a gamble,' he said.
However, council found some discrepancies in the list of items to be completed to bring the facility to a lock up stage. Councillor Bill Robertson noted some duplication with a list of items to be completed with the foundation's remaining funds and what will be completed with the $400,000.
Councillor Wayne Meikle also raised some issues with regards to keeping the facility heated and lighted. He questioned where the money would come from to pay the bills.
Pearce explained that the bills would be the responsibility of the foundation.
There were also some concerns raised from the public in regards to the seniors centre.
Although the foundation had promised that the seniors centre would be completed regardless of the outcome of the plebiscite, it was announced that the seniors centre would not be completed at this time.
So far no seniors money has been expended.
Pearce explained that if the seniors centre was completed it would cost considerable more to secure the asset.
'The cost would not only be $200,000 (which the seniors have available, but another $200,000 would be needed to prepare the balance of the building for an occupancy permit,' said Pearce.
Council discussed a number of other issues such as a request from the community for a forensic audit to be done on the foundation, as well as further fund raising options, expected contributions, security, insurance and much more.
However, no decision was made and council asked that further information be obtained in order to make an informed decision on advancing funds to lock up the facility.
'I want to pursue what we have. We have a $1.5 million facility sitting out there and I don't want to wake up one morning and see this place destroyed by fire. . .,' said Meikle. 'I want to see security.'
Robertson also agreed that a number of things need to be done to secure the building, however, he was unsure what those need to be.
Council will make a decision at the Oct. 12 council meeting. Council also agreed to have an independent engineer report back to council.
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Municipal Tax Plebiscite |
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Our Poll was: [93 votes total]
66% No [61 votes] |
