Rocky View Schools (RVS) will continue to face extreme pressure in accommodating its rapidly growing student population due to a significant shortfall in approved modular classroom requests.
RVS was allotted less than 20 per cent of the modular classrooms it requested from Alberta Education in November 2024.
In mid-April, the government approved the allocation of only five out of the 27 new modular classrooms requested. The requested relocation of one washroom unit was approved.
Of the 27 modular classrooms requested, four were intended for Cochrane Christian Academy and three for Manachaban Middle School.
The school division projects utilization rates at several of its schools will rise above 100 per cent by the 2026-27 school year.
RVS requested the modular units to provide additional student space until new schools can be constructed and opened.
Although timelines haven't been provided, RVS believes it's unlikely the delivery and installation of new modular classrooms will begin before the start of the 2025-26 school year.
The division will seek approval to place the new modular units at schools identified as having the greatest need.
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This year’s outcome stands in stark contrast to the previous year. In March 2024, nine new modular classrooms and the relocation of one washroom unit were approved. Four months later, the government approved an additional 12 new modular classrooms and 12 relocations of existing modular units to support overutilized schools.