ABOVE: A big funding announcement means more schools for Calgary students. David Boushy reports.
CALGARY – The provincial government is partnering with the Calgary Board of Education to build four new starter schools in the city.
The province has committed $30.6 million to Calgary for school infrastructure, saying it will help classrooms be constructed immediately to address a pressing need.
The schools will be located in the communities of West Springs/Cougar Ridge, Saddle Ridge, Cranston and Aspen Woods.
Alberta Premier Jim Prentice made the announcement during a morning news conference on Monday.
“Student enrolment is growing right alongside Alberta’s increasing population. Calgary schools alone have a predicted growth of approximately 5,000 students a year, for the next seven years,” said Prentice.
The Minister of Education says the new schools will be constructed in phases.
“Starter schools allow us to open classrooms more quickly, while continuing to add space for future enrolment,” says Gordon Dirks.
The remainder of the funding will be directed towards modular classrooms for Westgate School to ensure the Spanish program can remain at its current location; and for the planning of a new high school in south Calgary.
The Calgary Board of Education is welcoming the news.
“We are facing a severe accommodation crush in our CBE schools. At the moment, we have 80 schools operating at more than 90 per cent of our capacity,” says Joy Bowen-Eyre, Chair of the CBE.
Prentice says the announcement is over and above previous commitments, such as former Premier Alison Redford’s plan to build 50 new schools and to modernize 70 others.
The opposition argues construction hasn’t yet begun on any of those schools and suggest the new “rapid response” classrooms are inadequate.
“These schools are not going to have libraries, these schools are not going to have gymnasiums,” says Wildrose MLA, Jeff Wilson.
“This is not going to be an experience I would say Mr. Prentice would be proud of considering he said in his campaign students would not be housed in makeshift schools.”
Liberal Education Critic, Kent Hehr is also critical.
“By no means is this a plan to deal with the fact that Alberta needs schools in neighborhoods were kids live today,” says Hehr.
There’s still no timeline for when the four new schools might open.
Prentice says there will be more news to come for other school boards still under pressure.
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