Dear editor,
As a resident of the steadily growing community of Crossfield, I was frustrated with the provincial budget announced by the UCP government on Feb. 28. Our town has attracted many new younger families, yet our public schools have insufficient space to accommodate our students.
Rocky View Schools did not receive capital funding commitments to help alleviate this crisis. Does this mean we will be bussing Crossfield students to Airdrie, which is also experiencing the same lack of space?
Our Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange, has voiced her support of private schools, and I see money has been allocated for both private and charter schools. This appears to be a continuation of the process of taking funding away from our public systems so that they appear to be less productive, thereby justifying the need to support a private system.
I wonder if Premier Danielle Smith is advocating for our charities to step up and help an underfunded public education system like she has voiced for the health system.
Once again, I will be voting for the NDP so we can have a government that understands the value of public education.
Larry Barkey
Crossfield
