The following was emailed to parents/guardians and staff on March 9, 2023:

Dear RVS Parents/Guardians and Staff, 

Last week the Board of Trustees (the Board) for Rocky View Schools (RVS) received disappointing news that the Alberta government did not include our division in the school projects approved for 2023 construction funding. The Board is frustrated with this decision and the challenges it creates across the communities we serve.  

RVS was granted design funding for an elementary school in southwest Airdrie and preliminary planning funding for three other schools (new Airdrie high school and new Cochrane and Chestermere elementary schools). This means additional schools in our communities remain a future hope. With school construction funding pushed into the future, we are hopeful to receive news soon that the government has approved our request for 32 modular classrooms – needed now more than ever as temporary spaces for our students. 

Our rapidly growing division welcomes 1,000+ more students each year. Construction funding is needed now as it takes three to four years from the initial approval to build and open a new school.  

The Board has advocated to the government about Space for Students for several years and bolstered these efforts with a focused year-long campaign that launched in September. The Board met with provincial and municipal governments, school councils, community leaders, families and staff to raise awareness of this urgent need. Many of our families began sharing their stories, creating a community-wide effort to have our voices heard. It is important that we continue to voice our space needs to the government to get approvals for construction funding and temporary modular classrooms in our communities.  

We are grateful for the hard work and dedication of RVS administration and school staff who continue to find creative temporary solutions to ongoing space challenges. We thank our parents/guardians, staff and the community for your support and we ask for your understanding and patience as we continue to advocate for Space for Students and work together on interim space solutions.  

For detailed information about student enrolment growth and current and future space needs in our communities, please see our capital plan. For more information on our advocacy campaign and how you can help, please see Space for Students. 

Sincerely, 
Norma Lang 
Board Chair