Richard Froese
South Peace News
A new building for St. Andrew’s School in High Prairie continues to be a top priority for Holy Family Catholic Regional Division as the board pushes the project to the provincial government.
At its regular meeting Jan. 22, the board appointed High Prairie trustee Leanne Cox, Grimshaw trustee George Chuckvar, Western Cree Nation trustee Donna Duda and Fairview trustee Jessica Richard as the alternate to the St. Andrew’s ad hoc committee, says a HFCRD news release dated Jan. 24.
Another meeting with Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair has been scheduled for Feb. 13 to discuss what is needed to push the project forward.
Holy Family hopes to involve the community to be active in advocating for the project.
Holy Family administration will also be involved on the committee as needed.
Sinclair toured St. Andrew’s last spring to discuss that top priority in the Division’s capital plan, says an HFCRD news release dated June 20.
Sinclair spoke with students before he met with board chair Kelly Whalen, Cox, Supt. Betty Turpin, school principal Matthew Morrisey and vice-principals Stephanie Dube and Alicia Milner.
Turpin says the aging school facility has long been a priority for Holy Family.
“St. Andrew’s School has been our number-one capital project for a number of years,” Turpin stated in a news release dated March 9, 2023.
She added the current facility was originally constructed in 1957 as a one-storey school building. Additions were completed in 1963, 1971, 1985, 1990, 1991 and 1998.
Cox stated in a March 2023 news release the school needs a modern building.
“Our students and staff deserve the most modern facilities,” said Cox, a graduate and former teacher at St. Andrew’s.
A value-scoping project was completed in 2023.