French Immersion options, along with the restructuring of school communities, were among the issues discussed when parents concerned with attendance areas proposed by Rocky View Schools (RVS) spoke at a special board meeting held the evening of June 4.
RVS is set to open a new kindergarten to Grade 8 school in Cochrane in September 2016.
“This is phase three of the attendance area consultation process,” RVS Board Chair Colleen Munro said to Cochrane and Airdrie parents and community members. “Now is your opportunity to give presentations on (provided) options. Your feedback is going to be incorporated into the decision that we make.”
Previously, RVS solicited feedback from community members in open meetings and an online survey. However, concerns were raised by attendees who worried wording of the material provided had discouraged Cochrane parents from getting involved.
“When the initial survey went out, it was a bit confusing,” said Keith Hurley, who added the options provided did not satisfy community needs. “It’s a poor showing when (150 people participate in the survey) in a town of 23,000.
“The original survey had wording that confused some people.”
Shannon Hurley said nearly 200 concerned parents had voiced their concern with proposed options. One option would see a kindergarten to Grade 5 dual track French Immersion program established at Glenbow Elementary School.
“We want to enrich the program, not just manage the program,” she said.
Carolee Gudehus said 105 stakeholders had signed a petition noting their concern with a potential move from Elizabeth Barrett Elementary School to Glenbow Elementary.
“(The kids) love French and they are engaged,” she said. “We are concerned with the transition to Glenbow this (engagement) may be lost.”
Dylan Oosterveld said he worried French Immersion teachers from Elizabeth Barrett would not make the move to a new school.
“(I worry) about moving to a school that doesn’t have (a French Immersion) culture,” he said. “We have some really amazing teachers. We don’t want to see us losing good people.”
Oosterveld and Gudehus asked RVS to “put the brakes” on provided options and consider alternative options.
“We want to say we’re not opposed to change,” Oosterveld said. “We really want it to be thoughtful and in the best interest of our kids.”
Munro said the discussion would influence attendance area decisions.
“I would like to say thank you for your thoughtful, careful consideration,” she said. “I would like to personally emphasize that the board is in the middle of this deliberation, not the end.”
A recommendation for the new attendance areas will be brought to board members in June, and implementation will take place in September 2016.
