Alberta's overcrowded schools receive funding for more teachers, modular classrooms

Alberta's overcrowded schools are expected to welcome an historic number of new students this fall, and the provincial government is hoping an extra $215 million will help school boards manage the crunch.

In an announcement at Ernest Manning High School in Calgary, Premier Danielle Smith said $125 million is to help with operational costs — like hiring teachers and support staff, or addressing inflation.

More than half of the operational funding will go toward Calgary and Edmonton's education boards, though all school authorities in the province will get a share.

"Our intent is to prevent cost pressures from impeding our ability to provide quality education. We want our educators' focus to remain on the classroom and on students," said Smith.

The remaining $90 million is to get more portables for schools in Calgary, Edmonton and Rocky View County.

With that money, the province is getting 100 new modular classrooms built and installed — 45 for Calgary, 43 for Edmonton and 12 for Rocky View. High priority schools in those areas will also receive a total of 50 portables that are being relocated from other schools.

Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the new modular units should create space for 2,500 more students, and the relocated spaces should transfer up to 1,200 student spaces to Alberta's fastest-growing communities.

The 50 modular units will be moved immediately, in time for the beginning of the school year.

But Nicolaides says the new units could take more time. They're now being built, so some will arrive in September, though all are expected to be in place by the end of 2024.

"Continued growth in the system beyond original projections along with rising cost pressures requires action now so that our school authorities can plan for the upcoming school year," said Nicolaides.

Calgary Board of Education chair Patricia Bolger welcomes the extra space. She says more than 150 of CBE's 251 schools are at or over capacity.

"Over the past three years, we have welcomed more than 15,000 additional students and expect to enrol another 8,000 students this fall. Together, these increases are enough to fill more than 38 new elementary schools," said Bolger.

Educators with the school board have been eyeing creative solutions for schools that are over capacity — like renting nearby space, sharing schools and introducing a staggered schedule to spread students out throughout the day.

"These new learning spaces mean more students can attend school close to home," said Bolger during the announcement.

In a statement to CBC News, the Alberta Teachers' Association said it's pleased to see additional provincial funding to address the crucial need for more learning spaces.

"We have been advocating on behalf of teachers for new school builds to address the lack of learning spaces, as well as the need for funding to provide student support. Both of these additions will be beneficial; however, we know this is a small portion of what is required to keep Alberta students from being the least funded students in Canada," the ATA said in the statement.