Breton’s new, modernized K-12 school will officially be called Breton Keystone School.
The school building, which officials say is still in the process of being modernized received the moniker at the Oct. 15 regular board meeting of Wild Rose School Division (WRSD).
Superintendent Brad Volkman said the name was one of three in consideration.
“Because it’s not really Breton Elementary School and it’s not really Breton High School, we needed to think about what the name would be for the school once the construction is done,” says Volkman.
Volkman adds, the ‘Keystone’ name holds historical significance, as it was the original name given to the community when it was first established in 1909 by a group of African-American immigrants who arrived from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas just four years after Alberta became a province.
He says two other names were considered including Breton Centennial School, as the community was named Breton 1927 and the first Breton school opened in 1927 and as the modernization project will be completed just before 2027.
The other was Breton Community School, says Volkman as Breton is a close-knit community of people who support each other and they come together as a community many times throughout the year.
The name of the school was ultimately decided by WRSD board members, says Volkman, who adds the Keystone name really did seem to capture the the essence of what the board was looking to achieve in recognizing the history of the region.
The three top contenders were among 49 submissions received from a public survey that was sent to the community in February 2024.
While there is no date for the project to be completed, Volkman says if all goes well, K-12 students could be in the modernized building as soon as the 2026-2027 school year.
For now, K-6 students are learning in the existing elementary school building which will eventually be demolished.
As of the 2024-2025 school year, K-6 students are learning at the Breton Elementary School building which is to be demolished following the completion of Breton Keystone School. (Wild Rose School Division)
High school students are being bussed 15 minutes down the road to Warburg School, says Volkman, as WRSD and Black Gold School Division worked out a deal to have the same teachers and principals do their jobs – just in borrowed, previously unused space.
While other WRSD communities like Condor and Leslieville got brand new school buildings, Volkman says the Alberta government decided to modernize in Breton instead of build new- a decision that’s out of WRSD’s hands.
Volkman adds, he was pleased the Alberta government opted keep education close to home in Breton.
“In these days of efficiencies and so on, you know sometimes you worry that the government might say well you know you could bus those kids to one of the other schools in Drayton Valley or elsewhere,” says Volkman. “But we’ve made a strong case that it’s important to keep all those K-12 students in Breton. It assures that we’ll have K to 12 students in Breton for many many years to come.”
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