On February 9th, Rocky View School Trustees held a contentious reading and vote on Bylaw 2017-1.

The new bylaw would amend the number of trustees and redraw the ward boundaries for the school division. Of note, current wards 4 and 5 would be combined, and Chestermere would become its own ward. Airdrie would also gain one new trustee, bringing the total to three for the ward and eight in the division.

Before the amendments could be taken to the Education Minister, the bylaw needed to pass through three readings.

Ward 4 Trustee Helen Clease voices her opposition to the plan, stating her belief that the amendments creates an imbalance when it comes to West versus East and rural versus urban voices on the board. She also explained that voters in her ward are largely unaware of the change and she could not support it without consulting them.

The first reading of the bylaw passed on a vote of 6-1, with Clease in opposition. Likewise, Clease voted against the bylaw in its second reading, which also carried on a vote of 6-1.

The motion for the third reading was defeated after a vote of 5-2 in favour, with Clease and Ward 3 Trustee Sylvia Eggerer voting against.

 

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