The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Anderson urges government to address Airdrie’s school shortage

While emergency room wait times and oil sands tailings ponds continued to dominate question period as the legislature resumed its fall sitting following a constituency week, school infrastructure and child poverty also scooped a portion of the agenda. Below are highlights of some of the proceedings that took place between November 15 and 18.

School Services in Airdrie

November 16—Noting that some elementary classes in Airdrie are approaching 50 students due to a shortage of schools, Rob Anderson (WAP—Airdrie–Chestermere) asked Premier Ed Stelmach to commit to announcing funding for at least three new schools in Airdrie. Stelmach replied that the government has created 2,400 new spaces in Airdrie over the last five years and will continue to address the issue. Noting that the $2 billion the government has committed to carbon capture and storage would build 133 new schools, Anderson asked Stelmach to retask a fraction of the $2 billion for Airdrie schools. Stelmach replied that Airdrie is a priority and that the government is working through its capital plan. He added that he will not back off the investment in carbon capture and storage. Noting that none of the 32 new schools announced prior to the 2008 provincial election was earmarked for Airdrie, Anderson asked Stelmach to tell Minister of Education Dave Hancock to release his ministry’s priority list of school projects and the criteria used to identify each as a priority. Hancock replied that Airdrie is on the top of his ministry’s priority. He pointed out that Anderson had once asked government to stretch out its capital spending to save money.

Calgary Copperfield School Services

November 17—Art Johnston (PC—Calgary-Hays) asked Hancock why public school students who live in the Copperfield community of southeast Calgary are forced to endure long bus rides. Hancock replied that government needs to ensure schools where children live. He added that 10 new schools had opened in Calgary in September 2010, with another six scheduled to open in September 2011. Johnston asked Hancock how government prioritizes which communities receive new schools. Hancock replied that government works collaboratively with school boards, which prioritize their needs. Noting that 700 children under the age of five live in Copperfield, Johnston asked Hancock to describe the long-term plan of action to accommodate Copperfield students. Hancock replied that the community should work with the Calgary Board of Education, which, in turn, should work with government, which, in turn, will try to work the community’s needs into its capital plan. He added that a new Catholic school is scheduled to open in Copperfield in September 2011.

Child Poverty

November 18—Noting that 78,000 Alberta children live in poverty, Harry Chase (LIB—Calgary-Varsity) asked Minister of Children and Youth Services Yvonne Fritz to commit to implementing a tangible plan to reduce child poverty within the year. Fritz pointed out that families, not children, are poor. She added that government ministries should work together to address the issue. Chase asked Hancock to commit to implementing a school nutrition program. Hancock replied that good work is happening across Alberta in terms of school nutrition. “So rather than building a big, provincewide bureaucratic breakfast program or child nutrition program that puts lunches in every school, I think the good work that happens in our communities needs to be supported. I do support it both personally and as a department,” he said. Chase asked Minister of Health and Wellness Gene Zwozdesky to take the lead in ensuring children’s physical and mental well-being. Zwozdesky replied that children’s physical and mental well-being is a central plank of the province’s first-ever wellness forum, scheduled for December 1–3. He added that many ministries work together to address the issue.

International Education Week

November 17—Janice Sarich (PC—Edmonton-Decore) recognized November 15–19 as International Education Week. “This year’s theme, Building a Society for the 21st Century, reflects on the long-term view that we need while competing in a global marketplace,” she said. “At the local level, our education partners play an extremely vital role to support international education: the Alberta Teachers’ Association for the delivery of Alberta teacher and student exchange programs.”

CTS bridge to teacher certification program

November 15—Robin ­Campbell (PC—West ­Yellowhead) ­highlighted the Career and Technology Studies (CTS) Bridge to Teacher Certification program. “This program aims to attract certified journeypeople for various trades such as carpentry, welding, culinary arts and cosmetology as well as health professionals and information technologists to the teaching profession,” he said. “This unique initiative is a creative approach to meet the needs of students, and it is students who will benefit the most as they gain the skills and experience they need to be ­successful.”

National Bullying Awareness Week

November 15—Diana ­McQueen (PC—Drayton ­Valley–Calmar) recognized November 14–20 as National Bullying Awareness Week. “Our government continues to be committed to helping create a more tolerant society and is working hard towards a culture shift when it comes to bullying,” she said. “That is why our government created the prevention of bullying strategy. The strategy focuses on working with children, youth, parents, educators, community leaders and other role models to help prevent bullying and not just in our schools but in every corner of every community in our province.”