Ms Woo-Paw questions Minister of Education about new school designs
The following is copied from the February 16, 2010 printed transcripts of the Legislative debate and discussion.
Ms Woo-Paw (Calgary-Mackay PC): Mr. Speaker, government is
using different ways to fund its new school buildings, including P3s. I’ve
heard concerns that they are taking a cookie-cutter approach to the design
of schools. I’m especially concerned that the government’s plan, which
includes four new high schools for Calgary, Edmonton, Sherwood
Park, and Spruce Grove, will not meet the diverse learning needs of
students. My question is for the Minister of Education. Did school
boards have any input in the design of the four high schools to
ensure that they meet students’ needs?
The Speaker: The hon. minister.
Mr. Hancock (Edmonton-Whitemud PC): Yes, Mr. Speaker. It should
be clear that partway through the process we separated out the high schools
from the elementary-junior highs. The high schools actually have proceeded
on a design-build project. The school boards have been involved
with Infrastructure and Education through the design process and
have had ample opportunity to ensure that those school designs meet
the educational programming and educational needs of the students
in their areas.
Ms Woo-Paw: To the same minister: in regard to the ASAP schools
how involved are parents and community groups in the design
process for the high schools? Does the government have a genuine
interest in hearing their input?
Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, again, with respect to the high
schools the school boards would have had meetings in their communities
with respect to those schools to discuss with the communities
what was going into the schools, and they would have had an
opportunity through the school boards to get input in that way. This
isn’t the traditional build process, which would have started through
community meetings, et cetera, but there is certainly ample opportunity
for communities to be involved.
With respect to the ASAP school projects we do have a standardized
school design, which was developed with the input of a number
of different groups, but even in that circumstance school boards have
had the ability to meet with their communities and to adapt the
designs.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Woo-Paw: Thank you. My final question is this: is the design
process based on any research or studies that identify how other
groups, key stakeholders, can be involved in the design process of
schools? Was it an arbitrary process?
Mr. Hancock: Well, Mr. Speaker, over the last number of years
Infrastructure and Education have worked with organizations such
as the College of Alberta School Superintendents, the Alberta
School Boards Association, the School Business Officials of Alberta,
the Council of Educational Facility Planners, school plant officials,
and others to develop what we call standard designs for the K to 3,
K to 6, and K to 9 schools. Those standard designs are used as a
starting point with the school jurisdictions, and the school jurisdictions
have had the opportunity to work with those designs so that
they enable them to develop the educational opportunities that they
want for the students in their area. (117)
