Very soon, another line of red tape may be removed for schools. This time, it doesn’t come from either the school boards themselves or the provincial government.

As part of the July 15 Infrastructure and Planning Committee agenda, the City of Calgary has proposed changes to the bylaws surrounding modular classrooms. 

Currently, when a school adds modular classrooms, it must also adjust its landscaping, bike parking, loading stalls, and pick-up and drop-off stalls, according to the agenda.

In the past, the city has waived the requirements on a case-by-case basis, but when they do so, it requires a 21-day public notice period.

If approved, the new regulations will exempt up to six portables per site from the added requirements.

Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas, said that, even being on the outside looking in on most school-based issues, he wants the City to be doing everything possible to get school spaces open.

We’re working very closely on the building permit, development permits, even zoning stage, to get these needed school sites off the ground,” he said.

“I fully support red tape reductions, so that we can actually get those dollars out the door.”

A second part of the proposal aims to take another step in reusing public space.

Currently, the Joint Use Coordinating Committee, or JUCC, which includes the city and school boards, can approve publicly beneficial interim uses for underused school land or buildings, like libraries, daycares, and rec centres.

However, under the current bylaws, these interim changes still require a full development permit, something the proposal aims to swap.

When asked who should be able to use these interim sites, and for what, Farkas said that he anticipates the city using its first right of refusal.

“I’m open to a conversation about how these vacant school sites should be used, but in most situations, I want the City of Calgary to utilize its right of first refusal to purchase these vacant school sites to continue to be used for public benefits,” he said.

“Maybe it doesn’t make sense today based on how a community or neighborhood has grown for a school to be there, maybe it should be a park, maybe it should be seniors’ housing. There’s a lot of other community benefits there, so I want to see the city continue to be involved to ensure that those sites are for public benefit rather than private profit.”

School districts on board

In a statement, the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) said that they have a strong relationship with the city, specifically on issues of property, leasing, and infrastructure.

“We look forward to learning more about the proposed bylaw changes and the impact they may have on the installation of modular classrooms and short-term public benefit compatible uses of school sites provided for under the Municipal Government Act City Charter regulation,” the statement reads.

“It is our hope this will reduce the time and cost for installation of modular classrooms and facilitate interim uses of school sites.”

The need for school space in Calgary remains urgent, and modular classrooms help schools that are over capacity keep more students closer to home, according to the statement.

“Through ongoing collaboration between the CBE, the Ministries of Education and Childcare and Infrastructure, and the City of Calgary, work is already underway to ensure the new modular classrooms are installed and ready for students as soon as possible,” it continues.

Currently, the CBE has 160 schools that are full or over capacity, with 46 new modular classrooms on the way.

“The CBE has taken significant actions to manage our finite learning spaces,” the statement says.

“We have used capital dollars to relocate modular classrooms, shifted grade configurations and repurposed spaces in schools such as learning commons, stages and music rooms for classroom spaces. Through these actions we have recaptured roughly 3,200 learning spaces.” 

Similarly, the Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) told LWC that they look forward to continuing work with the City of Calgary to reduce administrative red tape.

“Portable learning environments and interim uses provide our students, families and communities with flexible, much-needed Catholic learning spaces as Calgary’s neighbourhoods evolve and CCSD continues to grow,” a district-issued statement reads.

If the changes are approved, the issue would go to a full city council public hearing on Sept. 15.