Frequently Asked Questions

In June 2019 when NLPS first approached the community about configuration, projected enrolments showed that by the 2022-2023 school year three of its schools in Cold Lake would be at capacity or over capacity and a fourth would be getting close. Schools are considered “full” when they approach 85% capacity. This is the point when class sizes sometimes get larger due to a lack of classroom space, or programming has to be modified because flex areas or areas previously used for dedicated programs have to be converted to classroom space. Projections for the 2023-2024 school year showed that Art Smith, Nelson Heights, and Cold Lake High would all be over 100% utilization and Cold Lake Elementary would be at 92.7%.

For more information about why configuration is needed, we recommend you review the presentation we made to the community in June 2019. You can find it HERE. Updated enrolment projections were included in our online consultations that were done in November. You can find the written presentation HERE or watch the VIDEO to learn more.

The Board of Trustees felt it was important for stakeholders, particularly parents, to have a voice in the configuration process.

The Cold Lake Configuration Committee (CLCC) includes two parent representatives from each Cold Lake area school, the Principal of each school, and representatives from 

Northern Lights Public Schools division administration (Superintendent, Secretary/Treasurer and Director of Community Partnerships & Engagement).  The Board’s three trustees from Cold Lake are not participants on the committee but attend the CLCC meetings to observe the process. In addition, support is provided by the NLPS Communication Officer, Director of Transportation and Director of Facilities.

The committee analyzed data including school capacities, utilization rates, and enrollment projections, and investigated the feasibility of expansion at a number of the existing sites as well as using NLPS facilities that are currently not in operation as schools at this time to determine what options were available and feasible.

The addition of instructional space, including portables, needs to be approved by Alberta Education, similar to a request for a new school or modernization project. When making the request, we would need to show that we have gone through a process to address our capacity issues and looked at utilizing space in existing facilities in the community. The core structure of the school also needs to be able to support the additional space.

If we were able to demonstrate a need and were approved, there is a two-year waiting list for portables. It is unlikely that we would be able to secure portables in time to address the capacity issues we will be experiencing in Cold Lake.

In the case of Cold Lake Elementary School, the core of the school cannot support any additional portables. 

At Nelson Heights, it is physically possible to add portables, but the cost would be significant. NLPS would be required to cover 50% of the cost of each portable, plus the cost of transporting and installing them, as well as any other renovations needed to the facility. For example, portables do not include washrooms and more washrooms would need to be added to the existing school to provide adequate facilities for the increase in students. As there would be a significant cost for these modifications, they may need to be stretched over a number of years in order to be completed without negatively impacting the limited funds the division is given to address maintenance needs at all of its schools (roofing, flooring, heating, electrical, etc.).

There are currently two schools in Cold Lake North - Cold Lake Elementary and Nelson Heights Middle School. The combined capacity of the two schools cannot accommodate all K to 9 students. In fact, one of the reasons the configuration process started was because both of those schools will soon be too full with their current configuration (K to 8 combined).

The committee considered several configuration scenarios, including some that provided a 7-9 option in the north. Unfortunately, many of these were not feasible due to building constraints. 

Our preliminary analysis shows that the Multi-Configuration Scenario would require the addition of one bus route (approximately $40,000/year). The Streamlined Configuration would also add one route, but that could be offset by the removal of another route, so it would result in no increased costs. We anticipate that any additional costs would be offset by additional revenues received from the provincial government to transport students.

Once the Board makes a decision about how to proceed with configuration, NLPS administration will begin work on a transition plan. That will include a more in depth look at transportation and it is possible those numbers could change.

Configuration discussions and the work of the Cold Lake Configuration Committee began prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the committee was making preparations to consult with the community about the scenarios it had identified when schools were closed to students in March 2020. Those consultations were delayed due to the pandemic and we have extended the community consultation period to ensure that stakeholders have time to review all of the information and provide their feedback to the committee to consider.

At this time, the Board’s goal is to gather the information it needs in order to make a decision about what the future configuration of schools in Cold Lake should look like. Once that decision is made, division administration will develop a transition plan that includes timelines for the changes to be implemented. A key part of this plan will be to consider and address student and staff mental health and wellness and ensure that transitions are made in a way that minimizes disruptions to learning and ensures continuity of supports for students. Once the transition plan has been developed, it will be shared with staff and parents so that everyone is aware of what is happening and the timelines that are involved.

Research has shown that transitions can be both positive and challenging for students.  It will be important that schools work together to create transition plans for students and communicate with families so they are aware of those plans and can work with the school to ensure any concerns are addressed.

This was something the committee looked at during its deliberations as several parents had questions about this during the information sessions held in June 2019.

While there are some families who choose to send their children to school in the north while living in the south, there are also families who live in the north end of the city and send their children to schools in the south. For the 2019-2020 the net result is fewer than 10 students attending schools in the north.

Strict enforcement of the current attendance boundaries would not free up enough space in schools in the north to address the impending capacity issues at those schools or at the high school. It would also not create enough capacity to address future growth that is expected in that part of the community.

Once the Board has made a decision about configuration, administration will start working on an implementation plan that will include an assessment of what renovations may need to be done at each site, a timeline for those to be completed, and how to pay for those renovations. 

Some renovations may be able to be done by NLPS using our Infrastructure, Maintenance and Renewal funds. These are funds we receive on an annual basis for maintaining our facilities and completing projects such as roof replacement, heating and electrical, flooring replacement, etc.). Generally these funds are used to do several smaller scale projects at a number of different schools on an annual basis. IMR funds could be allocated to do some of the renovations required at the Cold Lake schools, particularly if they can be done over a number of years.

If extensive renovations are required, NLPS may also look at adding the renovations as a project on its capital plan to be submitted to Alberta Education. This may be addressed more quickly than a request for a new school or major modernization, as it is using existing facility capacity to address community needs, and a comprehensive configuration process typically results in lower costs to the taxpayer.