Red Deer Regional Catholic Schools (RDRCS) is facing issues of overcapacity for several of their schools and has slated five new schools that they are hoping to see built before the 2023 school year.  

According to the recently adopted Three Year Education Plan, the current RDRCS middle schools in Red Deer are sitting over 110per cent utilization rate, and St. Gregory the Great in Blackfalds is at 90 per cent.

RDRCS Board Chair Anne Marie Watson said their district is growing quickly in and around Red Deer and 

"It means very full classrooms of course, but it also means perhaps moving classes into spaces that really aren't designed to be a classroom. For example, it could be a classroom in the foyer, or in the library. It could mean losing a computer lab, or re-designing our spaces to be used as a classroom, even though it's not meant to be used in that way," Watson explained. 

"St. Thomas Aquinas School in Red Deer is particularly full and I know they're having a challenge with some of their spaces."

Last year, the board received approval for design funding from Alberta Education to draw up plans for a new middle school in Red Deer. Watson said they are finalizing a site for that school, and then they must begin the design process. From there, they must await approval from the Alberta Education and Infrastructure departments. 

"Hopefully that [building] funding will then flow immediately because all of our middle schools are well over-capacity," she said. 

Watson said the district is celebrating some successes from their most recent accountability report, including continuing to have very low drop-out rates and positive Provincial Achievement Test results. 

Recently, the Curriculum Advisory Panel released the draft version of their 'Recommendations on Direction for Curriculum' report. Now, families are invited to take part in a survey that will help shape the future of Alberta curriculums for all school boards in the province.

Dave Khatib, Associate Superintendent of Inclusive Learning for RDRCS, explained that these recommendations are simply that - suggestions that will be examined, not things carved in stone. 

"I think a lot of people are getting caught up... and need to remember that these are just recommendations and advice on the direction of the curriculum," Khatib said. 

Khatib noted that some aspects, such as a focus on career development and post-secondary readiness are positive notions put forth by the panel. 

"We are working with students that need to be ready for the 21st century. They need to be ready if they're going into post-secondary, and we also need to make sure that students who want to move into job-ready careers are prepared and ready to go into that environment," he said. 

He said he's also excited about the focus on knowledge, skills, and competencies. Khatib explained that this could mean looking at more diverse teaching tools and new ways of examining how students are learning, and what they are taking in. 

The proposed curriculum changes are expected to be announced next month.