By Troy Gillard

unanimous vote

Red Deer Catholic latest to opt out of piloting new curriculum

Apr 28, 2021 | 2:19 PM

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) has joined the growing list of districts across the province that won’t be piloting Alberta’s new draft K-6 curriculum.

Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to opt out of piloting the curriculum for the 2021-22 school year.

RDCRS says it has received many concerns regarding the draft curriculum from teachers, students and their families in regards specifically to age and developmentally-appropriate content, the academic language related to curricular objectives, in addition to the timing of the proposed changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Seven days of feedback sessions were held with teachers for the draft curriculum. This feedback, along with a comprehensive review of the draft curriculum from the division level, will be sent to Alberta Education to help guide revisions and recommendations moving forward related to the curriculum.

Board Chair Kim Pasula says a comprehensive curriculum review will be done over the coming months that will include extensive consultations with parents, educators and the community. The findings are expected to be shared with Alberta Education are to the community by November.

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“We acknowledge and commend our students and families, and our school staff members, for all of their efforts in adapting to the challenges of the pandemic. The health and wellness of our community is our highest priority. While we have hope that we may soon be on the other side of the COVID-19 situation, the Board also made the decision to advocate for a delay in the implementation of the new curriculum,” Pasula said.

“The focus of the Division in the fall will continue to be on the mental wellness of students, staff and families, as well as learning progressions and post-pandemic recovery in schools,” said Superintendent Kathleen Finnigan. “We need to refocus on developing the strong relationships and connections Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division is known for, what we do so very well, and the reason why families choose our school division.”

Red Deer Public Schools announced earlier this month it also will not be piloting the draft curriculum, which was released in March by Education Minister Adriana LaGrange.

Other local divisions to opt out of the pilot include Wild Rose School Division, Wolf Creek Public Schools and Clearview Public Schools. Chinook’s Edge School Division has yet to announce its decision but has said it’s taking time to review concerns that have been raised.

According to a release from the Alberta NDP, districts representing over 70 per cent of students in the province have now opted out of piloting the draft curriculum.

“The message from Albertans is clear. The only question now is whether Jason Kenney is capable of hearing it,” NDP Education Critic Sarah Hoffman said. “It’s a critical element of leadership to admit when you’ve made a mistake and then fix it. It’s time for Jason Kenney to pull the pilot and rewrite this curriculum.”

Hoffman said the decision by Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, where LaGrange perviously served as board chair, should serve as a wakeup call to the minister.

Taylor Schroeter, a Beaumont-area parent, helped organize a petition against the curriculum and has gathered more than 11,000 signatures from 95 communities.

“The 11,723 signatures on these pages represent Albertan’s across all political backgrounds who are calling on our government to do what’s right for our children. This draft is not it, Schroeter said. “We have heard from parents from all walks of life and across many ethnicities, religions and cultures who do not feel this draft accurately represents them or their children.”

Hoffman will table Schroeter’s petition in the legislature next week.