According to a report that will go before its trustees on Tuesday, the Edmonton Public Schools Board’s schools are some of the most underused in the province.
Showing a utilization rate of 66 per cent, the use of EPSB’s spaces fall behind the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Roman District’s 76 per cent, and the Edmonton Catholic District’s 75 per cent usage rate.
“This data is not surprising to me. I was aware that our utilization rate was less than other boards,” said Dave Colburn, EPSB chair.
He credits the lower rate of students to spaces in part to the board’s two-year moratorium on school closures, declared back in 2010.
“What this board has decided is to resist the urge to simply close schools,” said Colburn, adding a committee has been working on possible school-saving solutions.
A report is expected in the coming months, he said.
Last week Minister Thomas Lukaszuk included working with boards to find flexible uses for schools in his 10-point plan.
Colburn called it “very positive,” but notes “detail that needs to be fleshed out” in the plan.
“I would say the Edmonton Public School Board is strongly supportive of wraparound services,” said Colburn. “I don’t think we’ve quite hit a home run with what that is yet.”
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