The tremendous growth of Cochrane isn’t without growing pains.
Rocky View Schools student population in Cochrane has been increasing by about 250 annually, reports the board. The boards adds that the growth trend is projected to continue resulting in Cochrane schools being over 100 per cent utilized within the next five years unless new facilities are approved.
The board operates 12 schools within Cochrane and area, eight of those schools are nearing or over their preliminary utilization rate. RancheView School, in the community of Sunset Ridge, is at 101 per cent.
Getchen Albers’s son is in Grade 3 and attends RancheView School. She hopes her son can remain at the school until Grade 8, but she’s worried that space constraints might result in him being moved to a different school.
“When approving these new developments three years ago, why was this crunch not anticipated”, she said. Albers and other Cochrane parents are aware that recent funding freezes by the provincial government mean it’s unlikely that new facilities will be built.
“All interim solutions are dependent on provincial funding.”
To address parent’s concerns the school board has been hosting public consultations to share information and address concerns on proposed accommodation options for K- Grade 8 students in Cochrane.
The first consultation took place Jan. 16 at RancheView School. A second is scheduled for Feb. 25 at Mitford School at 7 p.m. The board will take all of the feedback from the first consultation, along with feedback submitted via email, and present options and seek further feedback at the second meeting in February.
Fiona Gilbert, chair of the board of trustees at Rocky View School, said the recent consultation was well attended and all elementary, middle and multi-level RVS school were represented.
“I was impressed with the level of engagement on the part of the parents and the willingness to share ideas and ask questions looking to better understand the challenges and impacts in order to help find the best solutions for our community,” Gilbert said in an email.
The board provided information to attendees who then had an opportunity to discuss in small groups and provide comments and feedback on what the board should consider when looking to balance enrolments in these schools.
Gilbert said when utilization rates exceed 85 per cent, specialized program spaces like the band room, the drama room, the shop and/or the learning commons, start to be used as regular classroom spaces limiting the use of the specialized spaces for their intended purpose.
She said when utilization rates get to 100 per cent or more, schools need to get very creative and use every little bit of space they can for learning spaces including hallways, breakout spaces, gymnasium, shared classrooms.
“The addition of one modular classroom this year (at RancheView School), has allowed the learning commons area to return to being a learning commons rather than a classroom,” said Gilbert. She added that the board has asked government for three more modular classrooms for the coming 2020/2021 school year.
Last November Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education, announced 25 new capital projects for the education system across Alberta as part of Budget 2019. The town of Cochrane was awarded a new Catholic elementary/junior high school as part of the Calgary Catholic School District.
The Calgary Catholic School District is the largest Catholic school district in Alberta serving more than 58,000 students in 116 schools located in Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere and Rocky View County.
Budget 2019, which was unveiled on October 24, outlines 15 new schools to be built around the province including brand new high schools in Calgary, Edmonton, Leduc, Blackfalds and Langdon. Six schools are slated for replacement, and four will receive modernization or additions. The UCP also announced that new schools will have playground funding including in their project budgets and every new K-6 school will come with a playground under the UCP government.
Together, the 25 projects will receive $397 million. It is unclear at this time if money will be allocated to assist Cochrane’s RVS schools.
Local realtor Kendra Watt said her clients are aware of the challenges of overflowing schools in Cochrane. The issue is a source of frustration, but hasn’t affected real estate or the decision for families to relocate to the community.
“We often have families looking in particular areas of town to purchase based on what the catchment area is and their frustration sets in when they realize those boundaries tend to change,” Watt said.
For more information on the consultation process visit: https://www.rockyview.ab.ca/studentaccommodations/assets/cochrane_jan_16_2020
