By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter)

Central location, potential partnerships driving LRSD office move

Jan 9, 2017 | 6:09 AM

CLARESHOLM – The board chair of the Livingstone Range School Division (LRSD) says it’s about what’s best for students, not about pitting one community against another.

After nearly a decade of work, the school division plans to relocate its central office from Claresholm to Fort Macleod. Brad Toone explained the costs of renovating the current office vs. moving to a surplus space are comparable, but there were other factors.

“It made more sense for us to go with the option in Fort Macleod, as it is central in our school division, more central than our current offices now, and also the partnership with the town of Fort Macleod, the possibility of partnering with them, the cost sharing as well as other partners that we’re exploring right now was a huge advantage for us,” Toone said in an interview. He added the talks with the town of Fort Macleod are in their initial stages.

Toone said the school division hired an external facilitator for the consultations, to avoid any possible conflicts or perceptions of bias. Conversations were held with principals, and with office staff.

He said he understands the negatives Claresholm may experience about the departure, but it makes the most sense.

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“We cover from Nanton to Fort Macleod to the Crowsnest Pass, and being in Fort Macleod it’s the same relative distance… so our student services and our staff services come out of that office. It’ll be very advantageous for everyone in our division.”

There is no timeline set for the move.