About Us

The Community Schools Coalition, Edmonton, is a group of people who've been affected by recent closure, sector or sustainability reviews initiated by the Edmonton Public School Board.

We support the community hub model of schooling, in which space not currently needed for district instructional purposes is used to deliver complimentary services to children, such as early education and daycare. Available classrooms create opportunities for young Edmontonians and we should not squandor this resource.

We favour family-oriented infill redevelopment near existing schools as a way of maximizing existing infrastructure, reducing suburban sprawl and lowering taxes.

Although we recognize that sometimes closure may become necessary, we believe schools should been given a chance to succeed before they are written off as failures.

More than 70 Schools now under Review for Possible Closure

The EPSB has started a process to select which schools will close in the central, south-central and west-central parts of Edmonton.

Recent trial sector reviews in the inner city and greater Hardisty area ended with the elimination of half of public schools, despite enormous opposition from affected families, community groups, charitable organizations and political leaders.

Before trustees ratified the adminstration's decison, the Community Schools Coalition hosted a rally that attracted nearly 200 concerned citizens. Partners in the organization of this event included Public Interest Alberta, Edmonton Highlands-Norwood MLA Brian Mason and Edmonton Goldbar MLA Hugh MacDonald.

A schedule of the sector review events is available on our News and Notices page. The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues has published an open letter stating it will not participate in a negatively-focused public engagement process. Affiliated organizations are advised to bring forward solutions that can help keep schools open.

Modernized in 2002 at a cost to taxpayers of $4.5 million, McCauley School served a neighbourhood with a large immigrant population and some of Edmonton's poorest families. Half of students were learning English as a second language. Municipal plans anticipate that homes for 20,000 more people will be added to the former attendance area, but the EPSB was not willing to support the revitalization process.