How Cochrane and area schools will be utilizing their share of Rocky View School’s $2.7 million in classroom improvement funding from Alberta Education was part of an updated provided to Rocky View Schools (RVS) trustees at their Nov. 1 meeting.

From this pool of funding, each Rocky View school was provided $20,000 plus $73 per student based upon May 15, 2018 enrolment numbers.

RVS and ATA Local #35 representatives agreed the funds would be used to hire teachers and support staff to assist students with complex needs and English Language Learners. Each school formed their own Classroom Improvement Fund (CIF) committee involving the principal, one assistant principal and at least two teacher representatives.

Here’s how the funds will be used in Cochrane and area schools of Rocky View Schools.

Bow Valley High ($64,740)

- increase school guidance counsellor time to support a “chill room,” designed to support a variety of student needs including anti-anxiety support, stabilization of students that require socio-emotional support as well as providing space for outside agencies to meet with students in both individual and group situations.

Cochrane Christian Academy ($43,563)

- increase learning support teacher with an additional .015 FTE and increase Child Development Associate (CDA) with an additional 0.43 FTE. This will support students requiring additional social and emotional support and support for students requiring additional support for literacy and numeracy.

Cochrane High School ($79,310)

- additional 1.0 FTE assistant and increase existing guidance position by 0.35 FT to provide support for students with learning and social-emotional needs by enhancing guidance, learning support and the CHAT room.

Elizabeth Barrett School ($56,849)

- increase in educational assistant time enhanced support for student’s social and emotional needs.

Fireside School ($55,160)

- the hiring of an additional classroom assistant and increase of a teacher allocation of 0.135 FTE. Support for students with learning and emotional needs will be provided through direct classroom support and having an individual in the Learning Centre referred to as “The Roost.”

Glenbow School ($55,821)

- the hiring of additional full-time resource assistant and increasing an additional allocation of resource assistant 10.64 hours/week to provide additional support staff for students with complex learning needs; social-emotional support; mental health support; and behavioural supports and interventions.

Ecole Manachaban Middle School ($45,838)

- increase learning support teacher allocation by 0.1 FTE and an additional French Immersion Classroom Assistant. This will provide support for students in learning supports and for their French immersion learners by hiring a French immersion classroom assistant.

Mitford Middle School ($37,470)

- an increase of CDA time and increase in classroom assistant time to enhanced support for student social/emotional and mental health well-being.

RancheView School ($74,025)

- an increase of the CDA allocation by 0.357 FTE, increase of the positive behaviour support allocation to 0.5 FTE, increase in classroom assistant time by 0.386 FTE. It’s all aimed at enhancing support for student social/emotional and mental health well-being.

RVS Learning Connections

For it’s Cochrane location, it will increase counselling time by 0.16 FTE and increase the Youth Outreach Worker time by 0.1 FTE to enhance support for student social/emotional and mental health well-being.

Westbrook ($33,580)

- increase teacher allocation by 0.26 FTE and increase the CDA allocation 0.1 FTE to provide support for students with mental health and child development needs as well as support for students requiring additional numeracy attention.

Banded Peak ($42,095)

- increase in Learning Support Assistant: 15.64 hours and an increase in learning support teacher time to provide direct support to students with learning and emotional needs.

CIF was introduced as a one-time program by Alberta Education in its 2017-18 budget but was extended when the budget came down last spring. It is estimated to be providing $77 million to Alberta schools to create an estimated 400 teacher and support positions.