Judi Hunter – Ward 5 Trustee
Rocky View Schools (RVS) appreciates the provincial government’s recognition of the division’s urgent need for additional student spaces and the significant role investment in educational environments plays instudent success.
The government announced funding for five highly anticipated RVS schools in Budget 2024:
- Full construction funding for an Airdrie Kindergarten – Grade 8 school (South Windsong)
- Full construction funding for an Airdrie Kindergarten – Grade 8 school (Bayview)
- Full construction funding for a Cochrane Kindergarten – Grade 8 school (Rivercrest)
- Design funding for an Airdrie high school (Southwinds)
- Design funding for a Chestermere Kindergarten – Grade 9 school (Dawson’s Landing)
Budget Education Highlights
- More than $1.2 billion over the next three years to address record enrolment growth and support the hiring of additional teachers and classroom support staff.
- More than $1.5 billion to support specialized learning needs through learning support funding grants to serve the growing diverse needs of students for the increasing complexity of learning needs including language, social, and emotional supports.
- $492.7 million in transportation funding to school jurisdictions and $23 million to accredited independent schools and private Early Childhood Services operators to support the safe transportation of more than 335,000 students across the province, while saving families money and increasing access to transportation services; and
- $50 million to promote parental choice in education by creating more pathways into post-secondary education and field experiences, which will lead to greater participation in the labour market. This bolsters our commitment to school-of-choice programs, including collegiate schools and dual credit opportunities.
Disability Supports:
Budget 2024 provides a 3.87% increase to the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) budget which meets Alberta’s projected population growth of 3.7%. Inflation is projected to be 2.5% in 2024. There was a 6 million dollar allocation for Program Unit Funding (PUF) which is provided to school authorities for Early Childhood Services (ECS) children with severe disabilities/delays who require additional support beyond that offered in a regular ECS program.
Alberta Government will invest $55 million toward a new Multidisciplinary Science Hub at the University of Calgary. Alberta’s post-secondary institutions offer world-class education, and this investment will help more students access science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) facilities and training at the University of Calgary. As the economy continues to grow and diversify, demand for the skills and expertise of STEM graduates is projected to increase.
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?xID=8989335EDBF60-B863-395E-E4AB08477F82C566
Congratulations to Bearspaw school on introducing a new archery option and club to the students. Two teachers were certified to instruct class on how to safely use the equipment. While archery is new to most of our RVS schools, it is a program that is offered worldwide and is open to students of all abilities. Students can compete a local, provincial, and national levels.
