Latest news with #SchoolAct
Edmonton Journal
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Edmonton Journal
How Edmonton Public Schools is grappling with undocumented children
Article content 'There are children in this province, in this city, who are being prevented from attending school,' she said. Rutherford emphasized the emotional toll this takes on children, who 'are falling behind academically and suffering as they struggle to understand why they aren't allowed to exist and participate as equals alongside their peers.' How Alberta compares to other provinces? Advocates and trustees have pointed to legislative models in Ontario and British Columbia as examples of how Alberta could expand access to public education for undocumented children. In Ontario, the Education Act explicitly states that a student must be admitted to school even if the child or their parents are in Canada unlawfully. Provincial guidance also indicates that such students generally qualify for government funding. In British Columbia, the School Act requires boards to provide free education to all resident students, with 'ordinary residence' determined by factors like housing, employment, tax filings, or a provincial driver's licence. Students who meet these conditions are eligible for public education and funding, regardless of immigration status.
Hamilton Spectator
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Port Moody reverses course on SD43's school site proposal after memo warns of potential provincial intervention
Port Moody council has walked back its previous rejection of Coquitlam School District's school site proposal. Last month, council unanimously voted to not accept SD43's annual capital proposal , over concerns they had with a school site and the provincial process for planning schools. However, council promptly reversed course on May 13 after receiving a memo from the school board, which stated the rejection would cause the provider to come in with a facilitator to help 'resolve our differences.' 'This is a process that, personally, I do not believe is needed or wanted to occupy our council time,' said Coun. Callan Morrison. The Coquitlam School District's 2026–2027 Eligible School Sites Proposal (ESSP) is a routine capital planning submission which outlines the number, location, size, and cost of new school sites based on projected enrollment. Local school districts are required to pass the proposal annually under the Local Government Act and School Act. At the previous meeting, council had raised concerns over a proposed school site at the 34-acre Flavelle Mill property, which is currently earmarked for a 3,300-unit development. But council argued no application has yet been submitted for the property, and raised other concerns about the province waiting for schools to hit capacity before dishing out funds for new schools. Mayor Meghan Lahti said she brought back the item for reconsideration after receiving new information from the school district in a memo. 'I've communicated that it would be helpful for us when we're approaching these kinds of decisions, to have that information in advance of these meetings,' she said. 'It might be helpful also in the future, to ask that somebody from the school district attend (these meetings) and provide us with answers.' While the memo was not publicly shared at the meeting, Morrison said it made clear the ESSP is only for planning for new schools, and the Flavelle Waterfront site has been in their plans as a potential site since 2018. The province already had to appoint a facilitator when the site was first added to the list of potential new schools, he added. The memo also made clear the school district plans to retain the old Moody Centre Elementary site for another school, according to Morrison. Council passed a motion for the memo be placed on a future agenda item for public record. Coun. Kyla Knowes said there was confusion over the ESSP before the memo added some clarity. She added it was 'unfortunate' as they have a decent working relationship with the school board. 'I think a lot of us are frustrated with the process that goes into planning schools, and I think that probably spilled over when we're considering this item,' Knowles said. 'I think this council is rightfully alarmed at the exceptional growth that we're experiencing in Metro Vancouver, and (the impacts) on our hospitals and schools and roads.' Knowles noted council has had several meetings with the province over their issues with its methodology for school planning. Morrison agreed, reiterating his previous argument that it is premature for the city to be planning for school expansions on private land before development applications are received. On a positive note, he said council's initial rejection of the ESSP has fostered better communication between the city and the school district. Knowles said she hopes there will be more information sharing and transparency going forward. Council and the school board have arranged to meet in the near future to discuss some of the concerns raised at the previous meeting. 'As we conduct this ESSP review annually, there may be more clarity in what is happening with that property,' Morrison said. 'I look forward to a better understanding of what challenges the board is facing around school planning and around the restrictions that they have.'
Hamilton Spectator
05-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
‘Wrong way to plan': SD43's school site proposal rejected by Port Moody council
In a surprising move, Port Moody councillors rejected a usually routine capital planning proposal submitted by the Coquitlam School Board. On April 22, council unanimously voted to not accept the district's annual resolution, which identifies eligible school sites in order to secure future capital funding from the province. The official reason given was a proposed waterfront school at the historic Flavelle Mill site relies on development of private property which has not yet received a rezoning application. However, several councillors criticized the general methodology the province uses to plan for new schools, which they said is outdated and leaves school capacity lagging behind. 'This is the wrong way to plan,' said Coun. Callan Morrison. 'It just feels very much like a pipe dream, and I fear an exercise in unrealistic planning, as there are too many factors that can prevent the school district from delivering on this.' The Coquitlam School District's 2026–2027 Eligible School Sites Proposal (ESSP) proposes a need for six new elementary schools in Coquitlam and Port Moody between 2026 and 2035, with an estimated land acquisition cost of $192.7 million. ESSPs outline the number, location, size, and cost of new school sites based on projected enrollment, and local school districts are required to pass them annually under the Local Government Act and School Act. Port Moody is expected to see an additional 6,205 residential units built over the next ten years, adding roughly 804 new school-aged kids. Across the district, 26,490 new dwelling units are expected – slightly fewer than previous estimates – generating roughly 4,595 additional students. Coquitlam is expected to account for 67.9 percent of the projected residential development 67.9 percent, followed by Port Moody at 23.4 percent, Port Coquitlam at 7.7 percent, and Anmore and Belcarra at a combined 0.9 percent. Five of the proposed school sites are located in Coquitlam, while Port Moody is slated to receive a single new site. Most of Port Moody's anticipated housing will come in the form of high-rise apartments and multi-family dwellings, particularly through major projects like Woodland Park, Coronation Park, and early-stage applications in the Moody Centre transit-oriented development (TOD) area. The proposed new school site in Port Moody would be located along the waterfront to serve the anticipated surge of families, according to the ESSP. It states the location is intended to to minimize the need for students to cross busy streets and railway lines. The Flavelle Oceanfront Development plans to build over 3,300 new homes across the 34-acres of industrial land adjacent to Rocky Point Park. While the site has been designated as a redevelopment area since 2008, and Port Moody's most recent official community plan (OCP) permits towers up to 38 storeys, no official applications have been submitted to the city. Manager of Policy Planning Mary De Paoli said the school site has been on the books for a long time, and pointed out that Coquitlam's new school in the Fraser Mills Development was planned under a similar approach. However, Morrison said he couldn't endorse the ESSP as it's not a 'deliverable plan.' 'How can our province be planning school provision based on a private landowner's property possibly being built out over the next 25 to 40 years in their five-year capital plan?' he said. Morrison went on to raise concerns about whether the ESSP accounted for the increased density being mandated around transit stations and through small scale multi-unit housing under new provincial housing legislation. He also voiced broad frustrations regarding how the province plans new schools, stating school districts have to reach capacity before capital funding is provided for expansions. 'There's a perfect example of this type of planning happening with the new Moody Elementary School,' Morrison said. 'It will likely be at capacity by the time it's built.' De Paoli said that SD43 staff have recognized the significant impact that provincial housing legislation will have on student enrolment in the city, and noted they have indicated they want to retain the old Moody Elementary site for another potential school. Couns. Samantha Agtarap and Kyla Knowles both pointed out these issues have been frequently raised through the Union of BC Municipalities. 'The current status quo of planning for schools is disconnected from the reality of what our school children are experiencing,' Agtarap said. 'We need to be more forward thinking and understand ways that we can address school capacity in a more timely manner.' Knowles, on the other hand, said she was inclined to reject the proposal 'to send a message.' 'The planning isn't good enough,' she said. 'I feel like we're not being heard.' Mayor Meghan Lahti said that while she recognized that planners were likely looking at projected growth in Port Moody's OCP, she agreed with her colleagues' frustrations. She said the council will be able to voice their concerns to the school district in a future meeting.
