Rocky View Schools trustees are once again having to grapple with the problem caused by not having enough learning space in their schools to accommodate students in a growing division.

As a result, portables constantly have to be juggled throughout the area as officials try to accurately predict future attendance numbers.

Associate superintendent of business and operations, Darrell Couture, explained to frustrated trustees that for some time core schools have been overloaded with portables.

He added schools are not considered by the provincial government to be full until they reach 85 per cent capacity, and they may not buy a new portable classroom until they’re 95 per cent full.

Recent Cochrane High enrolment figures illustrate the difficulty of estimating student numbers.

Last year’s projections anticipated 734 students or 77.8 per cent utilization, but aggressive marketing kept enrolment at 751, or 81 per cent.

In addition, the approval for modular units at Glenbow Elementary School has been hampered by the development approvals in town based on Cochrane’s western heritage guideline policy, explained Couture.

Trustees lashed out angrily at the government at their Dec. 3 board meeting.

“Where’s their accountability for this crisis?” said Sylvia Eggerer.

“The department is not being accountable for what it’s supposed to do. In every area in Rocky View we have the potential for growth.”

Springbank trustee Helen Clease agreed.

“With the overcrowding, music rooms and art rooms are getting lost and we can’t lose sight of that,” she said.

Superintendent Greg Bass explained that the capacity of Rocky View students that can be educated in portable classrooms is 15 per cent higher than the Calgary Board of Education numbers, and 20 per cent higher than in Edmonton.

“At some point there can be no way the government can say no to more infrastructure in the jurisdiction,” he said.

He added Cochrane’s Mayor Truper McBride has offered to meet with school board officials to discuss the western heritage restrictions on portables in the town.

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