By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
Hardisty’s application for a charter school has been granted conditional approval. The approval is for a Kindergarten to Grade 6 Charter School, located in Hardisty, to commence operations as soon as September 2026.
Charter School Board Chair and President Blake Moser says, “This is the first step, and it will take community wide support to make reopening our school possible.”
Moser addressed the community over the weekend on social media, saying, “This is exciting news – but it is also the point where the real work begins. Over the next nine months, our community will need to come together if we are serious about reopening our school.”
Moser further said that in the coming weeks, the volunteer board will need to submit detailed plans to Alberta Education, including operational plans, financial projections, clearly defined school goals and student outcomes, and curriculum planning aligned with the Alberta Program of Studies.
“More importantly, we now need strong and visible community support.” He says that support comes in two key ways, “Firm enrollment commitments from families who intend to send their children to the school; and Financial contributions from the broader community.”
Moser adds, “We recognize that asking for donations is not ideal, but the reality is that this project will only succeed if it is properly funded from the beginning. A strong financial position is critical to hiring staff, equipping the school, and meeting Alberta Education’s requirements.”
He says over the next few weeks the school board will be launching a school website, delivering information packages to Hardisty and surrounding communities, and providing clear details on what the school is; how to registered students, and how to support the school financially.
Moser says there is a tentative plan to launch a large community fundraising event this spring, with more details to come.
Originally published in the December 17, 2025 edition of The Community Press. Never miss an issue, check out the different ways to subscribe! Click Here: https://thecommunitypress.com/subscribe/
