More teachers will be in the classroom as students in the Lethbridge head back to school this week. Students in the Lethbridge School Division and Holy Spirit Catholic School Division will begin a new school year on Tuesday. “We’re looking forward to welcoming over 12,000 students into our schools here tomorrow, said Lethbridge School Division superintendent Mike Nightingale. “We’re just always incredibly excited to have the opportunity to serve the community and serve students so it’s a really exciting time of year.” In May, the Alberta government launched a $200 million class size reduction grant to fast-track the hiring of more than 1,400 kindergarten through Grade 9 teachers across the province. Nightingale said that funding has allowed his school board to hire 28 more teachers — a boost in personnel that is “incredibly impactful” in addressing large class sizes. “It doesn’t mean that there won’t be some larger class sizes out there,” he said. “When you have 12,000 students over 25 schools, the class sizes aren’t always going to be perfect, but that will certainly help.” The funding has also brought the school board’s complexity teams up to 12 in K-6 schools and three in Grade 7-12 schools. “That additional staffing has really made a difference,” Nightingale said. The new support is part of the provincial government’s commitment to hiring more teachers as Alberta faces a teacher shortage and growing enrolment across all grade levels. The board chair of the Lethbridge School Division said hiring more also means the school board is prioritizing ensuring there’s enough space for students. “We’re looking at a rebuild of Lethbridge Collegiate Institute as our top priority, as well as a new elementary school on the west side because that sector of the city continues to grow, Christine Light told CTV News. While long-term advocacy on funding continues, Light says the immediate priority is welcoming students back to class. “For those parents dropping off for the first time, it can be an emotional day,” she said. “I’ve been there myself as a parent, but I can assure that those children are in excellent hands and they’re going to be cared for and welcomed deeply within our classrooms.”
