As a parent with children at Ecole Marie Poburan (EMP) since 2012, I cannot comprehend targeting a fully thriving elementary school for GSACRD office space, while numerous other schools in this district have sat half-empty and deteriorating for years. While the sustainability of Single Track French Immersion (STFI) programming for grades 10 to 12 at Ecole Secondaire Sainte Marguerite d’Youville (ESSMY) has most certainly required examination for years, closing EMP to elementary students is not a reasonable option.
The “Faith in Our Future” proposal not only discounts the fact that EMP enrollment has consistently exceeded most other elementary schools in GSACRD for years, it also completely dismisses the fact that St. Albert families want access to STFI.
Gutting Ecole Father Jan and converting its expensive new home in Riverside to a Dual-Track French Immersion program will no doubt see enrollment skyrocket at the only remaining option for elementary STFI programming in St. Albert: EMP/ESSMY. Should this proposal come to fruition, access to STFI will have to be enforced by area boundaries to avoid severe overcrowding at EMP/ESSMY. In addition to downsizing one of GSACRD’s most successful elementary programming options (STFI), financial savings would be minimal at best with the proposal in its current state, as the astronomical costs associated with renovating both ESSMY and EMP are not accurately considered.
The ESSMY site is grossly insufficient for the proposal’s underestimated elementary enrollment numbers to fit STFI demand as it has an extreme lack of facilities (including plumbing, playground, classrooms) for K-6, and is located on one of St. Albert’s busiest roads with no school zone. GSACRD attempts to support their proposal with “health and safety” as a priority, but this is a contradiction in and of itself, as they would be trading current concerns for serious new safety risks for hundreds of children.
Trustees are supposed to work for the people of St. Albert and are paid by our tax dollars to represent the best interests of students, families and the public within GSACRD. The lack of transparency surrounding the development of this proposal does not reflect that trusted role. Input from stakeholders should have been solicited in 2018, instead of wasting all of this time and money to present this solitary, short-sighted, five-point proposal that defies financial sense and logic, and devalues STFI education in St. Albert.
Families can choose from multiple schools in St. Albert for Dual-Track French Immersion, and I think those at GSACRD are remarkably naive to believe families are with GSACRD versus St. Albert Public Schools District for reasons of religion when it comes to French Immersion programming. The single most important factor for my kids attending EMP is Single-Track French Immersion. Hopefully, St. Albert Public Schools District will take note.
I do not have “faith” that GSACRD values the “future” of STFI programming in our city, or that the best interests of children and families have been prioritized in this matter. I also predict citizens will see yet another brand new, under-utilized Catholic school in St Albert, thanks to this poorly thought out proposal by GSACRD and its current board of trustees.
I urge all community members concerned with the “Faith in Our Future Business Proposal” to participate in the Thought Exchange process. The link is found through the district website at https://www.gsacrd.ab.ca/administration/faithinourfuture. Please also consider attending the Oct. 30 open house at SACHS, for which GSACRD wants you to RSVP your attendance at [email protected].
Suzanne Morton, St. Albert
