Board approves 2020-2021 balanced budget

The Board is required to approve the spring budget for submission to Alberta Education. This year’s submission deadline is May 30, 2020. 

The Board voted to approve the 2020-2021 balanced budget with operating revenues of $85,555,207 and operating expenditures of $85,555,207, and to request Ministerial approval to fund the 2020-2021 budgeted transportation deficit of $202,965 from Capital Reserves. 

The province granted a five per cent increase to the PWPSD Transportation budget for the upcoming school year. While the increase does not remedy PWPSD’s longstanding deficit in this area, it is a step in the right direction.

Changes to Program Unit Funding (PUF) for students with a severe disability or severe language delay will see school boards providing more programming with fewer grant dollars. The past PUF funding model provided up to a maximum of 475 hours of programming for 3- to 4-year-olds, but now school boards must provide a student with a minimum of 400 hours in order to qualify for funding which is also less than previous per-student amounts.  

PWPSD has joined six school districts to continue to provide wraparound rehabilitation services to students through a revised Peace Collaborative Services regional collaborative, maintaining the same service delivery model. This multi-disciplinary team will include Speech Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists and Physical Therapists, while the Mental Health Professionals will become employees of PWPSD. The change will bring about a small reduction in services to PWPSD school communities. 

Student enrolment is projected to remain stable at PWPSD schools in the upcoming year. Families of students new to PWPSD, or new to the school in which they are registering, are encouraged to register online as soon as possible for the upcoming school year, while school staff are still in the office and able to provide assistance, if necessary. Parents of returning students will be emailed a code in September to update existing information on file.

"Our preference is to have a solid picture of projected student enrolment numbers for an upcoming school year before the current one ends," adds PWPSD Superintendent Bob Stewart. "Whether Alberta Education's re-entry plan for the 2020-21 school year involves a full or partial return to school in September, or continued home learning for a period of time, we have teaching positions that will need to be filled, along with arranging any necessary supports for students." 

ACCELERATED CAPITAL MAINTENANCE AND RENEWAL FUNDING –
PWPSD awarded $2,100,000 in CMR funding

The Board reviewed a letter from Erin Owens, Acting Executive Director of Capital Planning for Alberta Education, announcing that PWPSD has been approved for up to $2,100,000 in accelerated Capital Maintenance and Renewal (CMR) funding.

The funding for PWPSD was included in the $250 million stimulus plan to boost school upkeep and renewal announced by Education Minister Adriana LaGrange on May 20, 2020 to address ongoing capital maintenance needs while keeping Albertans working during these challenging times. Projects must fall within the categories of the building envelope, upgraded mechanical, electrical and structural systems, interior upgrades, and site improvements. 

The money will be allocated to CMR priorities identified by PWPSD in April.

SEXSMITH SECONDARY TEACHER NOMINATED FOR ANNUAL ZONE 1 AWARD –
Nicole Cooper nominated for Edwin Parr Teacher Award

Board re-appoints banking services provider, selects new insurance provider

The Board re-appointed Scotiabank as PWPSD's banking services provider for a three-year contract, expiring June 30, 2023.

The Board appointed the Alberta Risk Managed Insurance Consortium (ARMIC) as the insurance provider for Peace Wapiti Public School Division, effective November 1, 2020.

Policy Review Committee Report

Trustee McIntosh provided a report on a new policy developed during the Policy Review Committee meeting on April 23, 2020. All PWPSD policies are available online. 

• Policy BBBC – Ward Boundary Review: For compliance with Section 76.4 of the Education Act which requires Boards to develop a policy about the process used to determine ward structures.

Board to maintain electoral boundaries

Section 260 (5) of the Education Act requires all school boards to confirm or amend their existing wards by December 31, 2020. The PWPSD Board voted to maintain PWPSD's nine electoral wards, as described in Schedule A of By-Law 17-33.