New schools are critical

By Leela Sharon Aheer Chestermere-Strathmore MLA

Hello Chestermere – Strathmore readers. I want to share some numbers with you that I have shared in previous articles regarding schools and the work to date as a result of the process. This area serves over 35,000 students, with increased enrolments year over year. This is fantastic; our communities are growing so fast that it is hard to keep up. There has been 91 per cent growth in our area from 2001-2021! 

New schools are critical and portables as well. We have been unable to secure portables across the province for many reasons, one being procurement. The products used to build them are in short supply, and we have been behind on building them for 20 years, so the backlog is huge. I am working closely with the school boards to help secure portables as they become available. 

So here is where we are at: the Langdon school is under construction and we are so excited to have this school built. The opening should happen sometime in 2024, so fingers crossed we are on our way. This school has been a project for many of us for over 10 years. It is a privilege for me to see this critical school built for our community. 

Chestermere is at a standstill but has procured pre-planning dollars because services for the K-9 school have not been put in. I want to thank our Chestermere City Council for their commitment and agreement in moving this phase forward as fast as possible for both the elementary and high school that are critical for this rapidly growing city. Let’s get this work done. 

The Catholic K-9 was funded for design of a new K-9 school, and Strathmore will also receive a new school, the replacement of Westmount School.

Chestermere has grown in population by 429 per cent since 2001. The City of Chestermere and the Rocky View School authority are coordinating the following issues:

• Extra land (approximately six acres) is needed for the high schools designated under the Municipal Government Act. 

• “Regular meetings regarding allocation, planning, development, use, and maintenance of reserve lands for school purposes” (Reserve land agreements document).

• The quick allocation of expanding needed lands required to build a school. This is necessary as all municipalities either provide extra land or funding to school authorities in lieu of land for the purchase of the needed land. 

We look forward to seeing step two resolved by the City of Chestermere as soon as possible to fulfill its obligation to the High School. We are honoured to see their commitment to their growing community and the kiddos in this area. We haven’t had a school site ready since 2014, so we thank the City of Chestermere for its amazing work. The elementary schools are almost ready to go! 

How do we build a school? It is a question that we hear every day. Let me share the process with you. I want to thank Rocky View and Golden Hills School authorities for their incredible work and advocacy for our growing families. These School Boards are focused on our kids and teachers. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you working to build our communities. 

Here is the process:

• Rocky View/Golden Hills school authorities (Trustees and Superintendents) will identify the need for a school.

• The municipality will prepare the site (in-ground services, enough space for the school, parking, level, stormwater management, and other services the municipality must fulfill).

• The school authority sets the school as a priority. 

• Province approves funding. 

• Design of school. 

• Construction of school. 

• School opens. 

As always, we love to hear from you. 

(Leela Sharon Aheer is the MLA Elect for Chestermere-Strathmore)