After a motion to have a third reading on Bylaw 2017-1 was struck down at yesterday's (February 9) Rocky View School Board meeting, the board will need to hold another meeting next week.

"We have called a special board meeting for next Thursday, February 16, and we will do third reading of that bylaw," said Colleen Munro, Board Chair and Ward 5 Trustee.

The bylaw would amend the ward boundaries and add a trustee in Airdrie. The bylaw requires three readings before it can be presented to the Education Minister. After the first two readings passed on 6-1 votes, a motion with unanimous approval was required to proceed to the third reading on the same day. That motion was defeated with a vote of 5-2, prompting the special meeting.

Munro explained that at the special meeting, the bylaw will be read in its entirety and then be voted upon. The bylaw only needs majority support in order to be taken to the Minister. If the Minister approves the bylaw, the changes would take effect with the municipal election in the fall.

Munro said that the changes are necessary due to the rapid population growth in the school division.

"The school act is very clear about what triggers that discussion, and it's when the population grows beyond the plus or minus twenty-five per cent median."

Recent census numbers showed that Airdrie, Cochrane and Chestermere are among the fastest growing urban centres in Canada.

Munro also explained that she felt the board has done their due diligence on this plan despite opposition from one trustee.

"This is not something that we contemplated and did with any kind of speed or haste. We started this discussion in February of last year."