What's old is new again in CBE spending plan

Instead of building new facilities, the Calgary Board of Education says it will focus on renovating, rehabilitating and updating existing public schools in its next three-year spending cycle.

With 15 new public schools currently under construction in the city, which will create room for more than 11,000 students by 2012, board administration said Monday thatit's time to modernize existing schools.

"With an average building age in our district now approaching, I think, 44 or 45 years on average, it is time that we're turning our attention to how we can improve the learning environments of students in some of our existing schools," said Don Darte, the CBE's director of corporate services.

The board's wish list does not call for any new schools in the first year of the spending cycle, but does includes new school construction in the second and third years.

The Viscount Bennett Centre,built in1955,is now the board's top priority, followed by Piitoayis Family School, which offers elementary education based on aboriginal perspectives.

Christy Carlson of the Community School Action committee criticized the plan, citingthe prioritization of Piitoayis Family School, whichis seeing a drop in its current enrolment of 250, as an example of poor planning.

"I'm quite confident a lot of parents would not be pleased to see their tax dollars going to a population that is declining when we have kids who can't even get into a regular program nearby," Carlson said.

The Community School Action committee, which says it represents Calgary parents, said the board lacks long-term planning. Carlson suggested that the CBE work out a point system to set spending priorities over the next three years.

"I am not confident that this capital plan has shown the areas of highest need," she said. "This is a huge slap in the face and a huge disservice to all of our tax dollars."

The administration said it expects to spend around $80 million for repairs and renovations next year and a further $20 million in following years.

Trustees, who ultimately decide where the money will go, get their first look at the capital plan Tuesday night.