Alberta government to fund 16 new schools, 2 school modernizations in Calgary and area

The Alberta government is promising to build 16 new schools and fund two school modernizations in Calgary, Airdrie and Chestermere if its latest budget is approved.

However, those projects are still in the planning and design stages — meaning they're still at least two years away from opening, according to Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides.

In an interview with CBC on Thursday, Nicolaides said it's important for his government to "take action as quickly as possible" because many schools in the Calgary metropolitan area are near or at capacity.

"We've heard the concerns loud and clear, and this is a demonstration of how [seriously] we're taking this," said Nicolaides.

The money is going toward kickstarting 10 new schools for the Calgary Board of Education (CBE), three for the Calgary Catholic School District, two for Rocky View Schools (one in Airdrie and one in Chestermere) and one for the Almadina Language Charter Academy.

In northwest Calgary, French school École de la Rose sauvage is set to be modernized. If the budget passes, the province will also modernize a building in Quarry Park for Foundations for the Future Charter Academy.

The announcement, made publicly on Friday afternoon, comes as Calgary public schools face an unprecedented space crunch. While enrolment growth is expected to slow in the coming years, school districts have had to convert hallways and staff spaces into classrooms, as well as close off schools that are at capacity to new students.

The province said all 18 school projects will add 14,400 new and updated student spaces to Calgary and its surrounding communities.

"It's going to help to alleviate and reduce class sizes, reduce transportation times, help students access schools right in their communities, and will have a lot of cascading impacts," said Nicolaides.

In combination with previously approved schools, there will be 49 school projects underway in Calgary and area, according to a release from the province.

The budget, introduced in the legislature in late February, allocates $10.4 billion in total education spending — which includes $2.6 billion over three years to build and modernize Alberta schools.

Last month, the province announced funding for the construction of 11 new schools across Alberta. That includes three schools in Calgary — all in northeast communities — as well as one each in Airdrie, Chestermere and Okotoks.

The announcements have checked off all but one of the CBE's highest priority (Year 1) new school requests in its three-year school capital plan for 2025-28. The remaining request is for an elementary school in Walden.

Modular classrooms

Nicolaides said the Alberta government is also putting money toward bringing temporary classrooms to crowded schools, since it will take some time before the announced schools become operational.

The budget includes $150 million over three years to the province's modular classroom program.

"Obviously, they're not permanent solutions, but they can act as a very effective, immediate pressure release valve."

Last fall, the CBE asked the province for 64 more portable classrooms to 17 of its most crowded schools for the 2025-26 school year.

Nicolaides said the CBE's request paints a picture of just how much space is needed in the city, but the details around where and how many portables will be delivered haven't been determined yet.

"[If] the budget is passed, we'll then be able to make some final decisions about how many modulars we'll be able to purchase and where exactly they will go."

He said he's also keeping a close eye on how U.S. tariffs might affect the cost of getting schools built, and the province will continue to alter their plans based on the fluid situation.

Funding welcome, concerns about timeline

With more than a third of CBE schools operating at 100 per cent utilization or higher, board chair Patricia Bolger said Friday on CBC's The Homestretch that she's thrilled to receive this funding.

"With no schools built in two years, we will be fully at 100 per cent utilization, so really they can't come quickly enough," said Bolger.

In a statement, the Calgary Catholic School District's board chair thanked the provincial government for the funding.

"There is an urgency to get the shovels in the ground to serve our growing communities. We hope these three schools will quickly move through the process to full construction funding so more students can live and learn in our Catholic faith close to home," said Shannon Cook.

Wing Li with public education advocacy group Support Our Students Alberta said new schools are desperately needed in Calgary, but she worries about the timeline of these projects given the pressure schools are facing now.

Li said she was hoping to see more about getting shovels in the ground faster.

"We see this current situation in schools — being overcrowded — urgent. We're living a crisis day-to-day for space, but also for lack of staff," said Li.

Jason Schilling, president of the Alberta Teachers' Association, said new buildings are always welcome, but he wonders who will staff those schools once they open.

The education minister said the province is allocating $1.1 billion over three years to hire over 4,000 teachers and staff, but Schilling said he wants to see more investment at the university level to get more people entering the profession.

"Teachers are burning themselves out trying to support all of these kids without the necessary means. And I feel that we are going to see more exodus of teachers from the profession and more kids slip through the cracks."

Both Li and Schilling raised concerns about public funding going toward two charter schools.