FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MARCH 18, 2024

Fairview, Alta. - The Peace River School Division and Grande Prairie and District Catholic Schools have agreed to come together to provide a solution to the St. Thomas More Catholic School community. It is the belief of both school divisions that the agreed-upon solution is the best solution for all students in Fairview.

At the March 14, 2024 meeting of the PRSD Board of Trustees, a motion was approved to grant GPCSD permission to build a temporary modular school building on the E.E. Oliver Elementary School property in Fairview, subject to the following conditions: that as the landowner, the PRSD administration must approve the physical location of the temporary facility and any related matters; and that a joint-use committee be formed to oversee the development of this project and the creation and implementation of a joint-use agreement.

“We are looking to support all students,” said PRSD Board Chair Crystal Owens about the decision. “We want to support Fairview as a community.”

Prior to the decision being made, members of both the PRSD and GPCSD administration met with the Town of Fairview to discuss the practicality of placing a temporary modular school building on an existing school property in Fairview. It was during those discussions that the decision was made to name the E.E. Oliver Elementary School property as the best location for the project because of existing underground water and sewer infrastructure.

Both Division’s administration have also begun preliminary conversations regarding traffic control and strategies to maintain student safety once the new building is constructed. The PRSD and GPCSD want to reassure the Fairview community that student safety remains top of mind for everyone, and solutions will be created to manage the flow of traffic including separate bus and parent drop off/pick up locations, and additional parking for the St. Thomas More staff.

This project is expected to move quickly, as the new modular facility must be completed in time for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Both school divisions remain committed to keeping the Fairview community informed, as best we can, during this process.

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Background:

Since the start of the 2023-2024 school year, the St. Thomas More staff and students have occupied space within Northwestern Polytechnic, Fairview Campus, because of a required asbestos abatement project at the STM building. 

Then, in December, 2023 GPCSD announced that St. Thomas More School (STM) needed to be closed, indefinitely, as the result of the costs required by a mandatory increased project scope. As a result, GPCSD and the STM community have needed to investigate and confirm a more long-term, temporary solution in time for the 2024-2025 school year. 

While a temporary solution for STM is required immediately, it remains the goal of both the PRSD and GPCSD to have a new, joint, K-9 catholic school and K-6 public school built in Fairview within the next five to 10 years. This goal is the number one priority on the capital plans for both school divisions. 

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