CALGARY – A local private school has been shut down by Alberta Education, and former staff claim they haven’t been paid for their work.
New Kanata Academy offered Kindergarten to Grade 12 classes at a campus in the community of Whitehorn, with about 10 teachers on staff and 75 students enrolled.
Alberta Education said the facility’s registration and accreditation were canceled because it had not complied with legislative requirements regarding student safety, and had not demonstrated governance practices that create high quality learning opportunities for students.
“Our first priority is ensuring all students have access to a high quality education in a safe, inclusive and positive environment,” said a statement issued by spokesperson Tamara Magnan. “The registration and accreditation of New Kanata Academy have been cancelled, as the school has not complied with legislative requirements regarding student safety and has not demonstrated governance practices that create high quality learning opportunities for students.”
“We are assisting parents in placing their children in other education programs as soon as possible.”
The facility had just opened in September of 2014, but had been shut down once before and moved multiple times—each time requiring a temporary closure. Many of the staff and students are from the now-closed International School of Excellence that shut down about a year ago. A member of the board decided to open the New Kanata Academy, employing the same staff and attracting the same families.
One former teacher said staff hasn’t been paid or received clear records of employment, alleging financial mismanagement that’s been happening for at least a month.
Alberta Education declined an interview to address the allegations, referring Global News to the above statement.
With files from Stefan Keyes
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