Airdrie-Cochrane UCP candidate Peter Guthrie sat down with parents at Cochrane Valley Montessori School (CVMS) on Thursday to discuss the UCP platform.
The main topic of concern was funding for independent schools.
“The faces of our children should be in the back of their minds,” said CVMS elementary director Shauna Hays.
Guthrie spoke in favour of independent schooling at the event.
“We know the positive impact independent schools can have for kids,” said Guthrie, whose son attended an independent school.
“We fully support independent schools, charter schools, faith-based schools, homeschooling, the whole spectrum.”
Currently, the UCP education platform plans to support the growth of independent schooling by lifting the provincial cap of 15 charter schools that has been in place since the 1990s.
CVMS is specifically looking for help with becoming an accredited elementary school in order to gain government funding in the form of $3,800 per student.
“[It will] allow our children the money that they are due for the best education possible,” said Hays.
“Because right now they are not getting (the money).”
The school already receives funding for its role as an Early Childhood Services (ECS) Operator for its pre-school program.
The elementary is a registered independent school which is not eligible for government funding.
Accredited schools must have at least seven students according to the Alberta School Act. CVMS is expecting an enrollment of 10 to 12 students in its elementary program by September which would meet the requirement.
Prior to the election being called, Hays was granted an interview with Alberta Education regarding accreditation that was scheduled to occur on March 20. The meeting was postponed after the election was announced on March 19.
The state of the Alberta curriculum was another point of interest for those at the discussion.
“We are not throwing out the curriculum,” said Guthrie. “We are pausing it.”
Changes to the curriculum would be halted to allow a new curriculum review.
A $60-million curriculum update began in 2016 with a six-year completion time frame. The draft curriculum for kindergarten to Grade 4 was released last year and is now being tested.
Hays has been disappointed with the lack of changes in education in the past four years, particularly the work on the Alberta Education Act.
“There’s been some words changed, some additions made to it, some band-aids put on it.” said Hays.
“I came out of university 35 years ago and [the act] was in place then.”
Hays worked on a draft of the Education Act for 10 years during her time with the public school board but the plan was shelved in 2015.
Guthrie said the UCP would look at that proposal again at the start of September of this year, if elected.
“It was legislation that was already passed. It just needed to be implemented,” said Guthrie.
Beyond education, people were also concerned about infrastructure in Cochrane, particularly the highway 1A/22 interchange.
The interchange project is currently still in the design phase.
Guthrie is currently looking into whether or not the project is on the official infrastructure list.
“Getting time with Jason [Kenney] is really difficult [but] every time I’ve heard him speak on infrastructure he’s said, ‘If it’s in the infrastructure list already, if it’s started, then it will continue’,” said Guthrie.
People came away from the event feeling satisfied with Guthrie and his responses to their concerns.
“It was very informative to meet him in person,” said Daniel Grant. “He cares about the schools here.”
Hays hopes this event will strengthen communications between a potential future MLA and the independent schooling community.
“We want to build a relationship with them,” said Hays.
Hays is also trying to organize a similar meeting with NDP Candidate Steve Durrell.
