Delia School almost complete, move-in a success

Written by Terri Huxley

Students and staff are now officially utilizing their new space at the Delia School.

The former building directly beside the updated facility will be torn down this year with landscaping, parking spaces, replaced playground and more will be created in spring of 2022.

They are currently halfway through the asbestos process then demolition will occur.

Deputy Superintendent Steven Nielsen shared with trustees at their regular meeting held Tues. Nov. 23 that it was ‘quite exciting’ and that everyone has been settling in since the move four weeks ago.

“It’s not easy moving but they did a fantastic job,” he said.

During the final walk-through with Shunda, the school contractor, over 500 different items were identified as needing extra work so the company is working on weekends and evenings to complete these items.

Nielsen added that for most parts of the school there is a two year warranty so if staff finds anything deficient they can have it replaced or addressed as needed.

The school has already hosted two events since it opened including a volleyball tournament.

Delia Trustee Shandele Battle asked when the official grand opening will be to which Nielsen shared it won’t take place until everything construction-related is completed. It will host the community, dignitaries, media and so forth.

There is talk of an unofficial opening with the reveal of the DSCS donor wall but that is still in the works.

As for the Morrin School rebuild project, they received their permit and are still in the works of trying to get the tender finished and completed before the new year.

If all goes to plan, dirt will start moving next spring.

In mid-October, it was announced by Prairie Land that they have appointed Group2 Architecture and Interior Design as the Prime Consultant in moving forward with the construction of the new K-12 School in the Village of Morrin.

Group2 Architecture and Interior Design is a Red Deer based company that has delivered over 500 education-based projects and designed over 150 new schools including Delia School.

MLA meeting

Prairie Land trustees will be meeting with Drumheller-Stettler MLA Nate Horner soon so trustees were tasked with determining what topics they wished to cover with him.

What was deemed as most important for the board members was a Transportation Task Force to see where this project is at, give schools of excellence updates, curriculum, red tape reduction efforts and insurance rates.

 

Terri Huxley

ECA Review

About the author

Terri Huxley

Terri grew up on a grain farm near Drumheller, Alberta with an eye for the beautiful and uncharted. Living in such a unique and diverse area has helped her become the photographer and reporter she is today.

Coming from the East Central region getting this newspaper on her dinner table growing up, it helped her understand the community she now serves.

In May 2019, Terri was awarded Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association (AWNA) Canada's Energy Citizens Photographic Awards Sports Action – First Place as well as first for the same sports action image nationally with the Canadian Community Newspaper Association (CCNA). Fast forward to 2020, she has won second in the same category for the AWNA.