The Board of Trustees for Wildrose School Division have approved the sale of the former Eldorado School property to the Town of Drayton Valley.
Wildrose School Division Superintendent Brad Volkman says the Minister of Education had earlier given the division permission to sell the land, and as per the Disposition of Property Regulation, the Town of Drayton Valley was given the first right of refusal.
“They have offered to purchase it from us, so the next step is to send the offer to the Minister of Education for his final approval,” explains Volkman. “This surplus property was up for sale due to us having two older school buildings replaced by one new, larger school building that houses both Drayton Christian School and HW Pickup School. This new school building that houses two schools is Powerhouse Campus.”
“With the demolition of the old Eldorado/DCS building,” adds Volkman. “We were given permission to sell the land. Once the old HW Pickup school building is demolished, that land will revert back to the Town of Drayton Valley.”
The property in question holds both the Eldorado Elementary School and H.W. Pickup School Buildings located at 4762 50 Street, 5113 50 Street and 5125 47 Avenue.
The proposal brought forth by Ama Urbinsky, Associate Superintendent of Business and Finance for Wildrose School Division, recommended the Board of Trustees sell the Eldorado School Property.
Officials say the division received a letter from Alberta Education and Alberta Infrastructure in September of 2020 approving a replacement school for the H.W. Pickup Junior High School including permission to demolish both the Junior High School as well as the Eldorado Elementary School. The Minister of Education also directed the Wild Rose School Division to offer the Town of Drayton Valley first right of refusal on purchase of the land at market value.
Two Drayton Valley residents, however, have expressed interest in the property, saying they would convert the existing buildings into a support and rehabilitation centre that would service Drayton Valley and area.
READ MORE: Drayton Valley resident advocates to stop demolition plans of former H.W. Pickup School.
This property was put up for sale as the buildings on it have sat empty since students began attending the new Power House Campus. Once the demolition of the buildings is complete, and pending approval of the sale, possession of the land will be returned to the Town of Drayton Valley.
Comments