Board to request 10 modular classrooms for installation at three schools 

Alberta Education has set November 1, 2019 as the deadline for the annual submission of requests for new modular classrooms. A school is deemed fully utilized and in need of additional space once enrolment reaches 85 per cent of capacity. 

In his presentation to the Board, Deputy Superintendent Darren Young outlined the need for 10 modular classrooms to address growing student enrolment and utilization at three schools. The Board approved the following requests for the 2020-2021 school year, for submission to Alberta Education before the November deadline.
 

PWPSD releases results of 2018-2019 Provincial Achievement Tests and Diploma Exams 

PWPSD students continue to demonstrate success on the Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs), administered annually by Alberta Education to students in Grades 6 and 9, and the Grade 12 Diploma Exams. Read the full media release. 

Board expresses concerns about the Renewed Funding Framework

Board Chair Kari Scheers wrote a letter to Education Minister Adriana LaGrange on October 8, 2019, expressing concerns about two recent meetings where conversations focused on the Renewed Funding Framework and several potential changes that will be presented. One meeting was between Alberta Education staff and School Board Chairs, while the other was between Alberta Education staff, representatives from School Boards, and the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA).  

Topics on the agenda ranged from Transportation, Program Unit Funding (PUF), Enrolment Growth Funding and Board Governance.

Transportation:
In her letter to the Minister, Ms. Scheers outlined how PWPSD's unique transportation needs, created by distance and rural population sparsity, do not fit the province's one-size-fits-all transportation grid calculation that works best for systems in larger centres with multiple schools. In the meeting, Alberta Education staff questioned whether school boards should be required to get students to and from school – a concept that only works in areas where other options exist, such as city transit.

Program Unit Funding (PUF):
Ms. Scheers went on to express concerns about the suggested PUF funding reduction for vulnerable 3-5-year-olds with severe communication delays, which could negatively impact their academic preparedness for Grade 1.

Enrolment Growth Funding:
Suggestions to alter the Enrolment Growth Funding grant to mirror the per student grant decrease will mean that school divisions experiencing minimal growth or decline would also lose out on additional funding. With less than 12 per cent of PWPSD's students attending schools north of the Saddle Hills, the school division already struggles to provide equitable programming to its northern schools.

Board Governance:
Suggestions to decrease the number of trustees throughout the province were also concerning for PWPSD, given that only nine trustees currently serve the varying needs presented by multiple counties, municipal districts, towns and hamlets that are part of PWPSD's 20,000 square kilometre boundary.

Mental Health and Wellness Report

In her report to the Board, Assistant Superintendent Heather Putio said that PWPSD provides mental health services throughout the school division via a series of partnerships with Family and Community Support Services (FCSS), Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Peace Collaborative Services (PCS), along with support from a Mental Health Capacity Building grant. The partnership covers mental illness prevention, wellness promotion and targeted intervention. In addition, PWPSD employs Community School Liaison Counsellors (CSLCs). Every school has access to counsellors through face-to-face time with a counsellor, via technology, or through scheduled family visits to service providers stationed in larger centres. 

Teachers are asking students four questions as a measure of wellness and as a front line screening tool to determine which students need additional attention: 

1. Tell me something you wish I knew about you. 
2. Is there an adult in this school that you can talk to, that you trust, that you know cares about you?
3. Do you have a peer that you can talk to, that you trust, that you know cares about you?
4. Do you have someone at home that you can talk to, that you trust, that you know cares about you?

These four questions are also used as a wellness strategy in the workplace, with outcomes having the ability to improve efficacy. This year, CSLCs also launched Wapiti Wellness, a monthly e-newsletter distributed to all staff.

PWPSD’s Wellness team developed a wellness pyramid to determine student needs and created a work plan to build mental health capacity in staff. Under the plan, FCSS and CSLCs provide presentations on mental health literacy and promote wellness, along with resources and skills training for emotional problem solving. On November 22, Dr. Jody Carrington will lead Power of Connection sessions during PWPSD's Professional Learning Day.

Town of Beaverlodge requests land at Beaverlodge Elementary for parking

The Town of Beaverlodge sent a letter to PWPSD, requesting land at 1009-5th Avenue be subdivided and sold to the town for a dollar, to provide parking space for ratepayers, noting that they have been using the space for parking since their facility was built. The PWPSD Board directed Administration to investigate the impact of a possible sale and to report their findings back at the next meeting of the Board on November 28.  

Transportation boundary for Eaglesham, Rycroft Schools realigned to Burnt River

The Board approved a minor change to the Eaglesham School/Rycroft School attendance boundary to reflect the natural boundary created by the Burnt River, as illustrated in the map above. Since there are no residences in the area, no students or families will be impacted by the change. 

Committee & meeting reports

• The Survey Committee met on October 7 to complete the ASBA Funding Framework Survey due on October 9. 
   
• Attendees reported on the Mamawhitowin Conference held on October 18.
   
• Trustee Knull shared a report from the PSBA Fall General Meeting held on on October 16-18.
   
• Trustee Kelm shared the Audit Committee report. 

Horse Lake Report

Horse Lake Representative Joy Joachim reported that Holocaust survivor Dr. Eva Olsson's tour of PWPSD schools includes a presentation at Horse Lake First Nation (HLFN) on Friday, October 25. This will be her first time presenting at HLFN and community members are interested to hear her experience and how it aligns with the experiences of First Nations people. A community lunch and round dance will follow her talk. 

The MME Society will host a Halloween party on November 2 at HLFN.

Board correspondence

• The Board will write a letter to the Public School Boards Association of Alberta (PSBAA) supporting the Sturgeon Public Schools letter to PSBAA President Cathy Hogg, dated October 11, 2019. 
   
• The Board will write a letter to the Minister of Education, requesting that public boards be permitted to use the word 'public' in their legal names. 

Upcoming events

• Merv Crouse Coats for Kids: The Distribution Centre is open until October 31 at the Towne Centre Mall, 9845 99 Ave., Grande Prairie. Gently-used winter-wear in all sizes is available free of charge to those in need.
   
• School Tours: Trustees will tour Bonanza School, Savanna School, Spirit River Regional Academy and the Peace Academy of Virtual Education (PAVE) on Thursday, October 31. 
   
• School Non-Operational Day: No school on Friday, November 8.
   
• Remembrance Day: No school on Monday, November 11. PWPSD offices and shops will be closed.
   
• ASBA Zone 1 Meeting: Wednesday, November 13 in Peace River. 
   
• Public School Board Council Meeting: November 15-16, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, West Edmonton.
   
• ASBA Fall General Meeting: November 17-19, The Westin, Edmonton. 
   
• National Child Day: Wednesday, November 20.
   
• Professional Learning Day: No school on Friday, November 22. 
   
• Board Development Day: Friday, November 22 with Dr. Jody Carrington.
   
• ASCA Online Engagement Opportunity for members: Saturday, November 23, 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. A virtual, interactive opportunity for ASCA Member School Councils to receive updates from, and provide input to, the ASCA Board of Directors. With special guest Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Education. Presented via Zoom Conferencing Webinar platform. Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device. Individual devices are required to participate in polling and the Q & A. Submit discussion questions in advance by email to wendyk@albertaschoolcouncils.ca. Gather as a school council group, host groups of school councils, or create a community event. Register here in advance of the event. Participants will be entered in a draw to win a complimentary 2020 Conference registration ticket that includes entry for the opening event on Friday, April 24 and full day on Saturday, April 25, excluding travel and accommodations. More information. 
   
• Administrators Meeting: Tuesday, November 26, 10:30 a.m., PWPSD Central Office. 
   
• Next Board Meeting: Thursday, November 28, 10:30 a.m., PWPSD Central Office. http://www.pwpsd.ca/Board/meetingdates