Decision made on Westgate School bilingual program

CTV Calgary: Spanish program in transition A Spanish program at Westgate School will stay put this year and transition to a new facility next year. Chris Epp has reaction.

The Calgary Board of Education, following an information session with parents and public, has made a final decision on the fate of a popular Spanish bilingual program at a southwest school.

The CBE has decided to leave the program in place at Westgate School for next year and plans to transition the program to Glenmeadows School.

Glenmeadows is currently housing the Calgary Arts Academy charter school, but that institution has received provincial funding to renovate a facility on the Stampede Grounds, leaving that building open for the Spanish program.

If Glenmeadows is not available by the start of the school year in 2015, the CBE will look at temporarily relocating the program to the Viscount Bennett Centre.

Originally, the Spanish Bilingual Program was supposed to be transferred to Eugene Coste School, but public outcry about the delay in public disclosure and the unacceptable distance of nearly 14 km between the two schools prompted a review.

The CBE has also made plans for another school and says West Springs School will remain a kindergarten to Grade 6 school for the 2014-15 school year.

In 2015, Grade 5 students will move to Rosscarrock School.

Grade 4 students will be able to complete Grade 6 at West Springs and the CBE says all new Grade 5 and 6 students will be designated to Rosscarrock School by 2016.

In future, kindergarten enrolment at West Springs School will be capped at 100 students and admission will be determined by the CBE lottery process.