The Rocky View Schools (RVS) Board met with Alberta Infrastructure Minister Martin Long to advocate for quicker school construction timelines amid growing student populations across the division.
During the May 21 meeting, trustees highlighted the division’s top infrastructure priorities and outlined proposed solutions aimed at accelerating the school approval and construction process.
"Currently, it takes about three years to build a school after construction funding is approved," the board stated in a release. "This process is slower than what RVS communities need, and the board looks forward to working with Minister Long and Alberta Infrastructure to get schools designed, built, and open for learning faster."
With enrolment surging and classroom space increasingly limited, RVS emphasized the urgency of bringing new schools online to meet the demands of students, staff and families. The Board also presented ideas to help streamline provincial processes and reduce delays.
The meeting included members of Minister Long’s team and follows continued advocacy by RVS for new and modernized learning spaces across the region.
All public schools in Cochrane are close to or exceed capacity.
The expansion of Bow Valley High School has entered its second phase. Rocky View Schools officials say the project remains on track for completion by the summer of 2026. Once finished, the expansion—along with modular classrooms already on site—will add about 500 new student spaces, increasing the school’s capacity to 1,425.
Funding was awarded last March for the construction of a new K-8 school in the Rivercrest community.