Two options for moving kids into new Wheatland Crossing

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

Bevan Daverne, Superintendent of Golden Hills School Division, met before a packed house at the Standard School on Aug. 29 to inform parents of details concerning the delayed opening of the new Wheatland Crossing School, timelines going forward, bus routes and possible options to move the students to the new school.
The superintendent said that all students from Gleichen, Hussar, Rockyford and Standard who were originally slated to go to the new Wheatland Crossing School will be going to the Standard School until the new school construction is complete.
Daverne offered two options for eventually moving the students to the new school. First, he said that students in Grades 3 through 6 who were originally slated to go to the new school on Sept. 1, could move into the new school around the beginning of October as long as no weather problems occur.
Alternatively, Daverne said all students – Kindergarten through Grade 12 – could move at the same time, after Oct. 1.
Conversation at the meeting was tense and the discussion heated as Daverne answered to the large crowd of parents.
Daverne said the contractors are working hard.
“Their focus right now is getting the roof done, getting everything ready in Grades 3 to 6, and getting the site manageable for all of us moving forward,” he said.
“By the end of September, without any more weather issues, that whole parking area and site area should be complete.”
Other areas of the school will need to be completed as well. The superintendent said the junior/senior high wing, the common area and the administration section are expected to be done by the end of October.
But he also said there are a few other school areas the contractors are unsure about, such as the gym.
“A lot of this is very weather-dependent.”
Daverne said he will look at the situation again in September and decide where to go from there, with the input of parents. He also suggested offering a tour of the new school at that time.
“We’ll have hopefully a better idea of timelines at that point, and then go from there,” he said.
Daverne said the new school is “gorgeous and it’s going to be one of the nicest schools in our system. When we look at the quality of construction, it’s really good.”