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Hartwick, who lives in the community of Coventry Hills, remembers when his daughter attended Grade 10 in 2015. She was forced to ride a bus 45 minutes each way to Crescent Heights High School and sit in classes of 40-plus students.

“It has been so frustrating, I joined the NHCA back in 2004 to get a high school built for my kids, but it’s been so long, now they’re in university,” he said.

“I have sat at the table with trustees, with the province, and all they do is blame each other. It’s time to stop pointing fingers and stand up for these kids.”

Hartwick added the NHCA was especially upset this past year when funding was approved for the Coventry Hills Elementary School, even though the elementary-aged population in the area has been stagnant for some time.

“What they should have done is approve a new high school, because that elementary is going to be a white elephant in 10 years.”

Althea Adams, public school trustee for Wards 3 and 4 representing communities in the central north and northeast, said parents are being invited to high school engagements over the next two years to discuss ways to balance overcrowded suburban schools with inner-city ones that are undercapacity.

“But in terms of getting the new north high school, it is absolutely, very much needed. And even on the day it opens it will be full right away.”

Trustee Lisa Davis said the CBE’s capital plan shows high schools are already at 88 per cent capacity, and if the north high school doesn’t get built, that number will go to 99 per cent capacity within the next few years.

“Obviously, this is hardly an ideal situation for students so it’s critical this construction funding is approved by Alberta Education as soon as possible,” Davis said.

“Calgary continues to be a city that is growing and this investment in our children’s education is critical to their future.”

According to a school capacity report that went before the CBE board last December, up to 40 schools, many of them middle and high schools, are operating at over 100 per cent capacity, including Nelson Mandela in the northeast community of Martindale.

eferguson@postmedia.com