By Jana Semeniuk , Staff Reporter
In 2020, Andrew resident Jodie Calfat was desperate to help save the local school from closure by Elk Island Public Schools.
The one-time K-12, Andrew School’s enrollments had slowly been dwindled down, prompting first the removal of their high school program in 2019, then their junior high in 2020 – leaving the school as a K-6 whose time was running out.
“There was some writing on the wall then,” said Calfat, whose two children were 11 and 9 at the time. “We were in trouble.”
A group of approximately 30 people gathered with signs in front of the school for a photo op for the Lamont Leader in May of 2020, all different wording with basically the same message; “Save our School.”
They eventually created an official group, the Andrew School Committee, which enlisted the help of a local filmmaker to create promotional videos in an effort to boost the school’s enrollment in addition to spreading public awareness campaigns.
Despite their best efforts, the school was closed in June 2023 due to small enrollments and a large quote, $3 million, to repair the school’s roof and sprinkler system.
For Calfat, the closure of the school meant her children were moved to school in Vegreville. This also meant their bus ride, which used to take under 10 minutes to Andrew School, was now an hour and-a-half each way totalling three hours each day on the bus.
“They would always come home and they have usually about an hour nap,” said Calfat.
Five years on, with the revival of Andrew School into the Andrew Rural Academy, Calfat said her youngest daughter, Brooklyn, will be coming back to Andrew for grade 10 this year while her older daughter Alyssa wants to finish high school with her friends in Vegreville.
“Brooklyn is looking forward to the extra sleep, and that child needs her sleep,” Calfat laughed.
While Brooklyn is starting a new chapter this year at Andrew, Calfat will be also.
“I’ll be working at the school in the Hot Lunch program,” she said.
In addition, the Andrew Rural Academy Foundation Board was able to have the roof and sprinkler system repaired for less than $200,000.
With all of the positive news around the resurrection of Andrew’s school, Brooklyn found it only fitting to make a new sign. This time it says;
“We saved our school.”
