By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter)

One time Classroom Improvement Fund expected to create hundreds of jobs

Oct 13, 2017 | 1:17 PM

CALGARY –  Premier Rachel Notley visited a Calgary elementary school on Friday, to meet with students and see how the first portions of a Classroom Improvement Fund (CIF) is being utilized in the school. 

In May of 2017, the province reached an agreement with the Alberta Teachers’ Association, ensuring there would be no job losses. In addition to that agreement, the government offered up a one time, $75 million grant, to improve the classroom experience for students and teachers.

Across the province, 45 school boards and teachers’ groups have already agreed on how to spend part of the CIF, which is expected to create more than 225 teaching jobs and 175 support positions.

The fund is distributed to schools based on student enrolment, with school administrators and teachers submitting joint proposals by December 15 for how the funds will be used within their school district. 

 Alberta Education reviews and approves each proposal to ensure it’s within the parameters of the grant program, and all the funds must be used during the 2017-18 school year.

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School boards and teachers are allowed a degree of discretion in how the funds are used to address local needs, including:

— teaching and non-teaching positions such as family support workers, educational assistants, psychologists, social workers and mental health professionals
 
— professional development courses on literacy and numeracy, behaviour support, inclusive learning and wellness
 
— materials or equipment such as assistive technology for students who need it, literacy and numeracy resources, maker space materials, upgrades to learning commons and CTS equipment for specialized courses

Based on student enrollment, local school boards will receive the following amounts from the CIF:

Lethbridge School District No. 51 — $1,254,000
 
Livingstone Range School Division No. 68 — $471,000
 
Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Separate Regional Division No. 4 — $636,000

Horizon School Division No. 67 — $481,000 
 
Palliser Regional Division No. 26 — $990,000

Westwind School Division No. 74 — $565,000