Page 8 - ECACS Ten-Year Capital Plan

3.0 EVALUATION METHODOLOGY
This report considers two major factors to assess the current and projected status of schools within the East Central Alberta Catholic Schools Division. The first is the condition of the school building, which includes its ability to provide a safe, appropriate and engaging learning environment for students. The condition assessment considers physical factors and characteristics of the school, such as building age, maintenance, finishes, and equipment. The second assessment factor is the capacity of the school building to handle the current and expected number of students enrolled and adequately provide space for the programs of study offered. While the two indicators are related in their aim to provide the best quality physical environments for student success, they are somewhat independent. A newer school with an excellent condition rating may have a poor capacity rating if it is consistently attracting more students than it can accommodate. Similarly, an older school in need of modernization may have an excellent capacity rating, but a lower rating for the condition of the building. Therefore, considering a balance between the two indicators provides a holistic approach to assessing the state of the school and making decisions about the kinds of projects that are necessary to prioritize.
SCHOOL ASSESSMENT CHECKLIST
Prior to visiting the schools, checklist of assessment criteria was developed to ensure that relevant areas of the building were evaluated and discussed with representatives from the schools and Jurisdiction. Using the rating scale outlined below, each aspect of the school’s condition or capacity was checked during site visits and compared to benchmarks outlined in provincial guidelines, as well as relevant codes, standards and best practices. Colours are used to provide a quick visual reference for flagging the most critical conditions observed during the assessment.
1 - Critical
2 - Poor
3 - Marginal
4 - Acceptable 5 - Good
6 - Excellent
Inappropriate or unsafe for a school; High risk of injury or system failure Inadequate and/or high cost of operation and maintenance
Meets minimum requirements presently, but has significant deficiencies Meets present requirements with minor deficiencies and limitations
Meets all present requirements and very likely to remain viable in the future New and/or state of the art; meets all present and foreseeable requirements
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EAST CENTRAL CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 10-YEAR FACILITIES PLAN