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Changes coming to Cochrane school districts in fall

“It not only makes good geographic sense, it makes logical sense and it also honours the feedback that we have received from the communities to keep communities together,” Gilbert said. “It’s balancing enrollments across Cochrane.”
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Rocky View Schools’ Board of Trustees approved modifications to seven of the Town’s school attendance boundaries and four schools grade configurations on Thursday (April 23).

COCHRANE— Students in Cochrane will be sharing classrooms with new faces after the approval of the Rocky View Schools' Cochrane Student Accommodation Plan.

Rocky View Schools’ Board of Trustees approved modifications to seven of the Town’s school attendance boundaries and four schools grade configurations on Thursday (April 23). These changes will take effect in September 2020.

Rocky View Schools Superintendent Greg Luterbach said during the meeting these changes were necessary because of the rapid growth of the Cochrane population.

Luterbach said over the past five years student growth has been increasing between five and six per cent annually in the Town. He noted that this year has seen the highest growth yet.

“We know that trend is going to continue,” Luterbach said. “Every time we have new students we certainly welcome them, but it puts pressure on our buildings— the amount of space that we have become less and less.”

Based on the demographics, projections and school capacities administration recommended that these changes to Cochrane school districts be implemented, Luterbach said.

The changes will largely impact students in the Heritage Hills and Heartland areas.

Over the next two years attendance area and grade configurations will take place— For those living in Heritage Hills, their designated schools will become kindergarten to Grade 5 at Elizabeth Barret Elementary School, Grade 6 to Grade 8 in École Manachaban Middle School and Grade 9 to Grade 12 at Cochrane High School.

For those living in Heartland students will be designated to Glenbow Elementary School for kindergarten to Grade 5, Mitford School for Grade 6 to Grade 8 and Bow Valley High School for Grade 9 to Grade 12.

In September 2021 Glenbow and Elizabeth Barret schools will have their grade structure adjusted from kindergarten to Grade 5 to kindergarten to Grade 4. Manachaban and Mitford schools will adjust their grades from Grade 6 to Grade 8, to Grade 5 to Grade 8.

“The reality is there is not enough room at RancheView School to maintain both Sunset, Heritage Hills and Heartland all at that one school,” Luterbach said. “We’re going to have to spread those communities across multiple schools.”

Heritage Hills students currently attending Bow Valley High will have the option to stay at school with transportation until 2022/2023. New students in the Heritage Hills area will be expected to attend Cochrane High School starting in the fall of 2020.

Rocky View Schools Board chair Fiona Gilbert raised concerns that students will not have access to traditional transition activities due to COVID-19. These activities typically would be available to families from both communities with students enrolled in kindergarten to Grade 7.

Because of this families will have the option to remain at their current school for the 2020/2021 school year with transportation services provided.

In September 2021 these students are expected to attend their new designated school.

Gilbert noted that it was imperative to allow students to be able to attend the school of their choice during this transition period.

“It’s about giving these kids the flexibility of choice,” Gilbert said.

Students new to Rocky View Schools in September 2020 will attend their designated community’s school.

Gilbert echoed Luterbach and reiterated the need to balance capacity between the schools in Cochrane.

She added that the changes meet the primary goal of the accommodation plan by moving students out of RancheView School while boosting declining enrolments at Elizabeth Barret school.

“It not only makes good geographic sense, it makes logical sense and it also honours the feedback that we have received from the communities to keep communities together,” Gilbert said. “It’s balancing enrollments across Cochrane.”

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