ROCKY VIEW SCHOOL BOARD TRUSTEE REPORT – Joanna Brownlee – Jun 2026

Joanna Brownlee – Ward 4 Trustee

We are in our final stretch to the end of our 2025/2026 school year. Many high schools are coming up on their graduation, and kids of all ages are rearing for summer. With the difficult year it has been, I want to take a moment to thank all our teachers. Without them, RVS would not be what it is, you are integral and valued beyond measure.

The Board of Trustees of Rocky View Schools (RVS) has approved minimal increases to school fees for 2026/27. Schools have prioritized maintaining access to optional courses and extracurricular activities while limiting fee increases to those necessary to address rising costs. Fees for Programs of Choice such as Building Futures and the Mechanics Training Centre remain unchanged, ensuring students continue to have access to these diverse and enriching opportunities. The approved schedule of school fees will be posted to the RVS website and on school websites by the end of June.

Alberta Education requires all school boards to submit an approved operating budget by the end of May each year. The Board was informed of the budget development process and approved the budget priorities in February. In support of student learning, RVS remains committed to delivering a world-class education to more than 29,600 students. Guided by the budget priorities, the draft 2026/27 budget directs the majority of funding straight to schools — supporting classroom staffing, inclusive education, Indigenous learning, wellness, technology and school resources. Every instructional dollar RVS receives is invested directly in learning, with zero instructional funding used for division operations. The draft budget also reflects targeted enhancements to school allocations, including increased classroom staffing, expanded mental health and learning supports, and equitable, enrolment-based funding models that place additional staff directly in schools. At the same time, RVS continues to face financial pressures from rising inflation and increasing operational costs such as utilities, transportation and staffing.

The draft budget will be brought forward to the May 21 Board meeting for consideration. Each year, RVS’ transportation fees are carefully reviewed to align with projected costs while remaining mindful of the impact on families. Rising costs for fuel, insurance, contracted services, staffing and inflation continue to outpace government funding for student transportation and adjustments are necessary to close this gap. RVS explored a range of options to support long-term sustainability. To balance affordability with sustainability, transportation fees will increase by five per cent in 2026/27. The approved fees set the annual resident student rate at $415, maintain a half-rate for kindergarten riders, keep early registration discounts in place and eliminate the multi-sibling discount to support fairness and long-term sustainability. These decisions help ensure transportation services remain safe and reliable, preserve financial stability and protect classroom funding so resources continue to be directed where they matter most — supporting student learning and success. Transportation reserves are projected to remain within a fiscally responsible range, providing flexibility and stability in the face of evolving cost pressures.