Rocky View Schools welcomes the Alberta government’s decision to fully fund the construction of two schools in Airdrie and Chestermere, projects that had previously received design funding under Budget 2024.
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In a written statement, the school division said the province’s commitment to advance full construction funding for a high school in Airdrie’s Southwinds community and a K–9 school in Chestermere’s Dawson’s Landing is a much-needed step toward easing pressure on schools.
"Every step towards opening a new school in Rocky View Schools is a cause for celebration," the division said.
At a press conference over the weekend, board chair Fiona Gilbert said RVS has exhausted short-term solutions such as shifting attendance boundaries, repurposing learning spaces and adding modular classrooms.
"There is only one solution left: more schools," she said. "These projects will relieve space pressures in some of our most overcrowded schools. We’re ready to welcome students and staff as soon as possible."
The two projects were first identified for design funding in Budget 2024 and are now advancing to full construction funding under Alberta’s $8.6 billion School Construction Accelerator Program. The initiative aims to create more than 12,000 new student spaces across Airdrie, Chestermere, Calgary, Edmonton and Okotoks by speeding up approvals for school builds.
The schools are among 11 projects moving from design to construction, including:
- High schools in Airdrie, Calgary (Cornerstone) and Okotoks.
- Elementary and middle schools in Calgary, Chestermere and Edmonton.
The projects will be delivered using two public-private partnership (P3) bundles, with contractor selection and design work next.
Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said modular classrooms will help manage crowding while permanent schools are built.
"A significant portion of our $8.6 billion will go toward modular and prefabricated classrooms to ease immediate crowding," he said.
He said the government is exploring P3s for some projects, with the first schools expected to open by 2028.
"The Minister of Infrastructure will work with school boards to analyze the potential for using the P3 model. Once finalized, we estimate the earliest of these projects will come online by 2028."
The $8.6 billion plan includes:
- 90 new schools and 24 modernizations over the next seven years.
- 20,000 modular classrooms to address short-term crowding.
- 12,500 new charter school spaces.
The province says the funding will help meet record student enrolment growth, with more than 200,000 new student spaces expected provincewide by 2031.
In its statement, RVS said it is grateful for the funding commitment but urged the province to keep pace with growth in the region.
"These new schools will not only bolster our infrastructure by addressing the growing need for student spaces; they will also improve both the learning and working environments for students and staff in these communities," the division said.
RVS said it looks forward to working with the province to accelerate both funding and construction timelines.
"We’re ready to welcome students, staff and the community into their new schools just as quickly as we possibly can."
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