Alberta Education Minister David Eggen took a detour from his travels this week to join the Blackie School Council meeting Wednesday night to discuss the unique needs of rural students.

It all started when Blackie School Council Member and Parent Scott Sherman cornered the Minister in April during a question and answer period at the Alberta School Council Association Conference in Edmonton.

Scott Sherman

"I asked the question when the last time was that he was at a school council meeting, he stammered a bit and said I was at one of my kids one recently then I said we'd love to have you at one of ours."

Minister Eggen made the trip to the council meeting and said his government is committed to keeping rural schools in place where the population allows and adds by funding for enrollment and maintaining small school by design should demonstrate that commitment.  

Minister Eggen says it's not all bad news during these challenging economic times when it comes to building schools.

"We're seeing a lot of our school tenders coming in under considerably under what we had estimated because of the economic downturn it allows us for some employment as well across the province. It's full steam ahead on 190 projects that we're building from Southern Alberta to Fort Chip."

He says they're also making better what we already have.

"I think what we're seeing is replacement and renovation as a big part of it to. Our government is committed to keeping rural schools in place where the population allows it."

For a link to the projects referenced by Minister Eggen click here: Alberta School Projects