By Leslie Cholowsky, Editor
The Hardisty Community Charter School Association received conditional approval from Alberta Education to open a Kindergarten to Grade 6 charter school in Hardisty, with a planned opening in September this year.
Board Chair Blake Moser says, “We anticipate the remaining conditions will be addressed and full charter approval granted in the coming weeks.”
As the project moves from planning to an implementation phase, he says the volunteer board is working closely with Alberta Education on the remaining operational and governance requirements.
They are also focusing on enrollment, facilities, transportation planning, and financial readiness.
Moser says charter schools are fully public schools, but must offer a distinct educational approach. “At Hardisty, students will follow the Alberta curriculum while benefiting from a unique focus designed to reflect rural life and real-world learning.
“Our proposed model emphasizes:
-Entrepreneurial learning, encouraging creativity, initiative, and problem-solving;
-Rural leadership, building confidence and skills to lead locally and beyond; and
-Practical life skills, including financial literacy, teamwork, and communication.”
Moser says the board is hearing strong interest from families in Hardisty, and in the surrounding communities. He says, “For many families, the appeal is a smaller, community-based school for the early years, with the option for students to transition to larger schools for junior and senior high to access expanded programming and athletics.”
There is now an official school website: hardistyschool.ca. Families can learn more there about the school model, find information on how to support the project, and register their interest. “Information packages will also be distributed locally in the coming weeks,” Moser says.
“The next several weeks and months are important for planning as we move through the conditional approval stage and into implementation.”
As the board is presently urging interested parents to register their interest, Moser says, “The reason you’re seeing a push for registrations is practical.
“To responsibly plan things like staffing, classroom set-up, transportation options, and budgeting, we need the clearest possible picture of how many students are likely to attend and where they live.
“Early registration interest helps us build realistic plans and communicate accurately with Alberta Education and the community as decisions get made.”
He adds, “Facility planning is ongoing, with the former Hardisty School identified as the preferred location. Transportation options are being explored as part of the overall planning process.
“While charter schools are publicly funded, start-up and early operating phases require strong cash flow.
“Separate from registrations, the other immediate community response we’re asking for is financial support.
“While charter schools are publicly funded, there are cash flow realities in the start-up phase as we work toward opening – for example staffing costs, utilities, and initial purchases to get classrooms and operations set up.
“To support this, we are planning a community fundraising event in Hardisty on April 25.
“Reopening a school in Hardisty is achievable, but it depends on continued regional support. We welcome interest and enrollment from families across the area.”
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