Board of Trustees

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Board of Trustees Unanimously Pass the District’s Three-Year Capital Plan

Wed, 8 Apr, 2015

At the regularly scheduled board meeting on April 7, the Board of Trustees unanimously passed the District’s three-year capital plan. The plan is sent to the province and highlights the district’s most pressing needs for new schools, modernizations and additions.

“Our city is continuing to grow at a rapid pace and this plan details what we need so we can meet the needs of our current and future students,” said Board Chair Michael Janz.

“The only lasting solution is to get these schools built and built as soon as possible. If we can’t provide enough space for our students this fall or in the near future, the district will have to look at other measures like we did in our Growth Accommodation Plan, such as busing students to schools outside their neighbourhood community.”

Developing Edmonton neighbourhoods have grown by more than 113,000 people over the last decade, including more than 30,000 children. Between 2002 – 2010, no new schools were opened in the district despite this significant increase in student numbers. The biggest growth has been in developing southside neighbourhoods. Nine of the city’s top 10 fastest growing neighbourhoods are in the south.

By 2026, 130 district schools will be 50-years-old or older and the money needed to update these schools will tally more than $1 billion.

In other board news, the trustees unanimously approved a motion to ask the Alberta School Boards Association to discuss the issue of adding consent into the Sexual Education curriculum.