Final student enrolment numbers will be announced at the end of September, but the Rocky View Schools (RVS) board is confident its projected numbers are right on track.
The RVS board had their first meeting back after summer vacation on Sept. 5.
RVS’ Superintendent Greg Luterbach said they estimated enrolment for September 2024 to sit at 29,350, which is an increase of 748 students from last September, or a growth of 2.6 per cent. He said this number was based on community growth, grade to grade growth, historical trends, and census and birth rate data.
Enrolment numbers fluctuate daily but the final number on Sept. 30 will play into funding purposes and are generally used to describe a school division’s student population.
“Yesterday, we were at 29,307 and you might find this interesting, but as of about 20 minutes ago, we are at 29,272,” said Luterbach. “So actually between yesterday and today, we lost 30 kids.”
He said the reality is that schools are continuing to transfer kids or get them into classrooms at this time. Typically, the numbers will increase, decrease, and then grow slowly throughout the month in the alternative schools, he added.
“Our 29,350 projection is about where we’re going to land at the end of the month,” Luterbach said. “Not massively over, not massively under. Every time I hit refresh on the report here, the number changes.”
Some schools have higher enrolment and some have lower enrolment than what was anticipated.
“We’ll have our final enrolment and based on that we’ll make budget adjustments,” he said about the Sept. 30 numbers. “Potentially staffing adjustments will have to happen.”
That means teachers may move between schools as is required, he explained.
Cell Phone policy implementation
The board discussed the changes that prohibit students from using their personal mobile device in school during instructional time unless specially authorized by their school’s administrator or their teacher for educational purposes.
This also includes the use of laptops, but the board stated staff would be able to continue using laptops in classrooms for instructional purposes. It’s specifically social media that is being restricted, which will be blocked through the school’s WiFi.
While many schools were already not allowing cellphones in classrooms, Luterbach stated the new policy would create consistency across the school division.
Infrastructure projects update
The board also received an update about infrastructure maintenance and renewal projects over the past year.
Five schools received new modular classrooms, including George McDougall High School in Airdrie, Chestermere Lake Middle school, Cochrane High School, Northcott Prairie school in Airdrie, as well as Fireside School in Cochrane.
Airdrie’s Meadowbrook school received a mechanical upgrade of its air handling, coilers, expansion tanks, and circulation pumps. Infrastructure was included to allow for future cooling capabilities.
Roofing projects were completed at Kathryn School, Ecole Edwards Elementary in Airdrie, as well as Mitford School in Cochrane.
Front door cameras were installed at 20 locations to improve visibility, as well as upgraded lighting and ceiling tile at Chestermere Lake Middle School.
Plumbing and mechanical upgrades were completed at Nose Creek Elementary School, Glenbow Elementary School in Cochrane, and Ecole Edwards.
Looking ahead, 30 more modular classrooms are in the initiation phase, three washroom upgrades will take place at Beiseker Community School, W.G. Murdoch High School in Crossfield, and Muriel Canyon Middle School in Airdrie, as well as several other projects.
