At a recent Parent Council meeting at Bowness High School, the principal explained that the new modernization would not be completed in whole. They were originally budgeted $20 million, but the actual funds given came up short close to $2 million. This means that approximately 35% of the new wing will remain locked up and unusable.
It was suggested that we start writing letters to see if we could get some extra funds drummed up to finish the modernization fully and have something that would benefit the students of Bowness upon completion.
Bowness High School is the feeder school for Tuscany and I feel that this is an important issue for the residents of Tuscany to address.
I wrote one letter and sent it to many people, changing the address and who I was writing to each time. I made sure that I carbon copied all of the people on the letters I sent. I sent it to:
a) Ms. Jana Macdonald – Principal of Bowness High School
4627 77 St NW Calgary, AB T3B 2N6
b) Mr. Brant Parker – Area 1 Director Calgary Board of Education
Parkdale Centre 728 32 St NW Calgary, AB T2N 2V9
c) Ms. Joy Bowen-Eyre – Chair of the Board of Trustees and Ward 1 and 2 trustee
Education Centre 1231 8 St SW Calgary, AB T2R 0L4
d) Ms. Deborah Drever – MLA Calgary Bow Constituency
6307 Bowness Rd NW Calgary, AB T5K 1E7
e) Mr. David Stevenson – Chief Superintendent of Schools
Education Centre 1231 8 St SW Calgary, AB T2R 0L4
f) Hon. David Eggen – Minister of Education
228 Legislature Bldg 10800 97 Avenue Edmonton, AB T5K 2B6
So far, this one letter has generated much activity. I would like to see more letters being sent out and see what could be done as a result.
I am asking people to contact any or all of the above people and let them know that funds should be made available to complete this project. I know that it would be easy to sign a form letter, but I find them to be less effective. I have provided a variety of reasons why the project should be completed for the 2016/2017 school year. I ask that you take a few of them and write your own letter.
Some points to consider:
- We are all tax payers and we give to the CBE
- It is much more cost effective to finish the job now instead of trying to find a contractor and funds later that will finish the job.
- The trades people, architects and construction crew are in place already, along with the building permits, so it would be easier to complete the work now.
- Our economy is a mess, but keeping the workers at the Bowness construction employed for longer will help Calgary’s economy as the workers shop and eat in Calgary.
- People expect the job to be done, not left 35% incomplete.
- The new, bright learning spaces will be a benefit to the students’ learning.
- The school was originally given the full amount and then had that cut back, so the building can’t be completed.
- The spaces left are to be finished as classrooms, which are cheaper than completing the expensive additions that were in the original plan.
- There will be a similar feel and style if the work is done by the same workers and crew.
- Finishing it all now will mean that learning will not be disrupted in the future. If the classrooms are to be finished later, there will be students’ learning being interrupted. Now the space is empty and ready to be finished.
- It is unprecedented to leave a new school build unfinished.
- There is no plan to complete this work at any time in the future. The CBE has $200 million to complete work now. When will this be finished, if not right away? And who needs to complete this, if it isn’t done now? Parents? Administration? CBE? Alberta Education?
I will attach a copy of the letter that I wrote. It isn’t anything fancy, but I made an effort to try and right something that I believe is wrong. I hope you will join me in this task and see if we can’t benefit the students of Bowness High School for next year and for years to come.
Thanks,
Marion Enns
TMC Co-Chair
