Dear Neighbours,
Seven thousand children entered the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) last year. The CBE expects 9,000 new students this year. For this explosive growth in students, the province is building one new school right now.
I’ve talked to a lot of parents this year about schools. They’ve told me that they’re concerned about large class sizes, ailing facilities, and overworked teachers. Because of these shortfalls in available space the Calgary Board of Education is now having to consider renting space from recreation centres like the YMCA in Seton. By no means an ideal or long-term solution to this current crisis.
I got into politics because of concerns about the quality of education my children were receiving. When I grew up in Alberta, we had the world’s best education system. A child who can’t speak a word of English can come to school in Alberta and be operating at grade level in three years on average. No other system in the world can do this. It’s something that all Albertans should be proud of.
I fear that cutbacks to funding and failing to build for our population growth will lead to that reputation being lost and Alberta trailing behind other provinces in education rankings.
It’s September. Time for new hope and promise, and what I personally consider the real beginning of a new year. I know the people of Calgary-Elbow are struggling under the weight of affordability and health care challenges and want smaller class sizes for their kids. I’ve got your back. I care about these issues too, and I’m reminding the government of their obligation to you every chance I get.
Should you have any other questions or concerns, my office is located at 205, 5005 Elbow Drive SW. You can also reach me at [email protected] or by phone at 403-252-0346. My door is always open.
MLA – Calgary Elbow Samir Kayande proudly serves the following Communities: Altadore, Bel-Aire , Britannia, Elbow Park, Elboya, Erlton, Garrison Green, Garrison Woods, Glamorgan, Lincoln Park, Lower Mount Royal, Marda Loop, Mayfair, Meadowlark Park, Mount Royal, North Glenmore Park, Parkhill, Rideau Park, River Park, Roxboro, South Calgary, Upper Mount Royal, Windsor Park
