The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues has been invited to sit on an advisory committee that is helping the public school board determine its need for school space in various sector of the city.
The advisory committee has representatives from roughly a dozen organizations, including community leagues, the Urban Aboriginal Affairs Committee, the Edmonton Immigrant Services Association, Alberta Education and various city departments.
“It’s good to see them engage the community in this exercise,” noted EFCL executive director Allan Bolstad, who is representing the organization on the committee.
“The use of school space in a community affects a lot of groups and it is important that they hear from everyone.”
This winter the school board is focusing on school programs in the southeast and south central parts of the city.
In both cases, the board has a significant surplus of space and a number of buildings requiring significant upgrades.
“It’s no secret that this process could well lead to school closures,” Bolstad acknowledged.
“Our focus is to look for other solutions – such as forming partnerships with complementary organizations like daycares or non-profits that offer programs of benefit to the local community.”
Bolstad said the EFCL will also press for a process where the community is kept engaged after a school is closed, to ensure that the building and/or property is put to good use.
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