March 2008 Public School Update

Our Community Association received a copy of the Development Permit for the Bridlewood Elementary School. This is good news as it means that our school is on schedule. To follow the progress of the school please go to: http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/underdev/bridlewood/bridlewood.asp

Construction has started on the Shawnessy Somerset Middle School and it looks like it is on schedule for the September 2009 opening date. Photos of the construction are at: http://www.cbe.ab.ca/schools/underdev/shawnessy/shawnessy.asp

Bussing continues to be an issue for the Bridlewood students in junior high who go to Wilma Hansen Jr. High. The bus company has been unable to hire enough drivers for all of the bus routes. The have also lost some of their drivers to Calgary Transit. The bus routes are all still covered, but often late as the bus company must wait for a driver to finish their assigned routes and then take on additional routes.

Fortunately the Bridlewood Elementary students who are bussed to Midnapore Elementary haven’t experienced the same disruption in their bus service. Only about 3 times during the year to date.

The Calgary Public School Board will be preparing their annual Capital Plan shortly and we will be watching to see where the Bridlewood Middle school is positioned. As the province funded 6 public elementary schools in June 2007 and 5 middle schools in February 2008, the public will still need to talk to their MLA’s to remind them that there are still over 30 school sites throughout Calgary without schools. With the continuing problems of school bus driver shortages we must get these schools closer to where the children live.

Sheila Swan
Public School Liaison
publicschoolliason@somersetbridlewood.ca