Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools has moved into its new administration office in downtown Okotoks, causing a domino effect which will benefit staff and students in the separate school system.
Approximately 40 Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools (CRCS) staff were unpacking boxes last week at their new office at 1 McRae St., formerly the Okotoks Royal Bank building. They are moving from two houses on Elma Street which served as the division’s head offices. The tech centre on Elizabeth Street has also been moved to the new facility.
“We now have transportation, finance and administration under one roof,” said Hans Woehleke, CRCS’s assistant superintendent of schools. “It will not only be easier for staff to access, but also it will be easier for the public because there is one location to access.”
The new administration facility came in on budget at approximately $900,000.
CRCS superintendent of schools Michael O’Brien said the new facility is efficient but was done frugally so as not to economically impact learning in the classroom or school programs.
The funds were raised through the division putting money aside for a number of years as well as through provincial grants.
However, administration’s former offices won’t be empty too long.
The Centre For Learning, which provides on-line home education for thousands of students across the province, is moving from its present location at the former health unit on Elizabeth Street to the two houses on Elma Street.
St. Luke’s Outreach program will be moving into the former health unit to accommodate the growing program.
The outreach program provides an alternative education for students who have chosen not to go the traditional high school route. However, because St. Luke’s students often attend classes at the facility, space is at a premium.
Eighty-nine of the 137 students registered with St. Luke’s attend the Okotoks campus (the other two are in High River and Brooks).
Niki Doyle, a teacher at St. Luke’s Okotoks, said the extra space is needed.
“We are moving more and more to a more traditional classroom,” said Doyle, who teaches English classes at St. Luke’s. “Dylan Sinclair (a teacher at Holy Trinity Academy) is coming down to offer Social Studies classes next term, so we will need space.”
St. Luke’s is scheduled to move into its new facility in March.
CRCS is the third largest separate school system by population in the province and the largest geographically. It has schools in Brooks, High River, Drumheller, Strathmore, Canmore, Oyen and Okotoks.
CRCS public board meetings will continue to be rotated to the various communities in its jurisdiction.
