Quote:
Originally Posted by oldcoote
A generation ago, it was the complete opposite. The catholic schools were old and dilapitated. (Remember the old STM?). The Catholic board certainly capitalized on urban sprawl as most of their schools are suburban. This is probably a cyclical thing.
Both boards plan for the present, but need to accommodate the future in their planning. St Mary's was built and within a few years had 20 portables on site. Bad planning imo. Mega-schools are a negative trend.
Look forward to the day when the military has to hold a bake sale to raise funds. We're doing our kids a disservice.
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Of course its a cyclical thing. And at that point when the demographics change again the Catholic schools will be 50 to 70 plus years old and they will make the tough decision of closing them down and building new ones in the core if necessary. They would have got their moneys worth out of those buildings. Also a generation ago Catholic schools were old and dilapated because they weren't receiving equal funding when compared to public schools. Catholic students had to pay out of their own pocket to go to school to subsidize the difference. Ever since catholic schools have received equal funding they have been able to make smart economic decisions.
And St Mary was good planning IMO. Those portables were there for less than 10 years until the new Bishop Tonnas school was built. Its better to be overcacpity for a decade than under capacity for 50 years. Look how the undercapcaity public schools are falling into disrepair.
St marys is currently the smallest catholic highschool population wise. The portables were a temporary fix untill the new Bishop Tonnas was built. That was planning for the future, they didnt over build the school because they knew a new school was in the works in Ancater. Overbuilding Marys would have left it under capacity and underutilized instead portables were a fix for less than 10 years.
Look at STM it had tons of portables and they recently complated a new multi million dollar addition to the school to meet the growing demand. Consolidation saves money and a small amount portables act as a buffer zone for the unpredictable year to year enrollment fluctuations.
Mega schools aren't a negative trend. Its economics, economies of scale. Capatalizing on effiencies. Simple example 20 high schools require 20 Principles and at least 40 Vps. 7 High schools requries 7 principles and 14 VPs. Right there alone you're saving over $2 million. Not to mention heating and maintenance.
And i disagree wit "both boards plan with the present" The whole idea of moving the new BR to rymal road was because of the massive developments planned in the future for binbrook and rymal road, much of which has already started.