Division Office ~
The new Pembina Hills School Division Board of Trustees were sworn in at their first board meeting of the new term on October 29, 2025.
The board conducted its first order of business as part of their Organizational Meeting for 2025-2026, electing Trustee Victoria Kane to serve as Board Chair, and Judy Lefebvre as Vice-Chair.
As Board Chair, Kane will preside over all board meetings, work with the superintendent to set the agenda for board meetings and be the spokesperson for the school board. As Vice-Chair, Lefebvre will fill in when Kane is not available. The school board elects a Chair and Vice-chair each year. Read more about the responsibilities of the Board Chair and role of the Vice-Chair.
“I’m honoured to serve as Board Chair and to work alongside our new Board of Trustees. Each Trustee brings unique strengths and a shared commitment to our students, our schools, and our communities. Together, we’ll continue to focus on supporting students and strengthening education across our division. Congratulations to Trustee Judy Lefebvre on her election as Vice Chair — we are looking forward to the year ahead!” ~ Board Chair Victoria Kane
We also want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our outgoing trustees, Sherry Allen and Maureen Schnirer, for their dedication, leadership, and service to the students, staff, and communities of Pembina Hills. They devoted countless hours to thoughtful decision-making, community engagement, and advocacy for public education. Their commitment has helped shape our schools and strengthen the foundation for student success. We wish them all the best in their next chapters!
Resumption of Classes, Fall Break Proceeding
The board welcomed all teachers and students back into classrooms on October 29. At their meeting, trustees gave thoughtful consideration to the decision of amending operational calendars, given three weeks of missed instructional time. In particular, many students, families and staff questioned whether the upcoming fall break from November 10 through 14 would be cancelled, and students brought into class to make up some of that missed time.
Why is the Fall Break still happening?
A survey of school support staff indicated that approximately 80% would not be available to work if the Board were to remove the Fall Break. After carefully reviewing operational and staffing considerations, the Board determined that it would not be feasible or safe to hold classes during that week.
Support staff are essential to the daily operation of schools. For example, Educational Assistants play a critical role in supporting students with learning or behavioural challenges. Without these staff members, schools would be placed in a difficult position trying to meet students’ needs while maintaining safety and supervision for all students.
We confirm that no adjustments have been made to the current division or alternate school calendars for November-December. The scheduled Fall Break from November 10-14 will proceed as planned. Families will be notified if any adjustments to school calendars are required for January-June 2026.
What is being done to support students after the recent disruption to learning?
The division is focused on supporting students as they resume their learning. All curricular outcomes are expected to be taught. While we can never fully make up for the time lost, teachers may consolidate learning and assessments, or consider projects that can cover large portions of the curriculum or learning that make cross-curricular connections.
January Diploma Exams & PATs Cancelled
Alberta Education and Childcare has recently announced that January diploma exams and Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) have been cancelled. Having no diploma exams will provide greater flexibility with instructional hours in January.
Communication Success Stories
The board received a report from Assistant Coordinator of Communications, Jan Carswell, whose department is working hard to keep families and staff connected. This year, the division published 134 stories on its website, which received over 164,000 visits from 36,000 users. The division’s Facebook page has grown to 2,571 followers, and posts have reached nearly 580,000 people.
Division Communications supports schools in many ways, from managing websites and social media accounts to helping with digital tools that make life easier for families. Parents can register students, report absences, pay fees, and sign permission forms all online through digital platforms. Tools like SchoolMessenger help schools send important updates to families through text, email, and phone calls.
The division has also been busy promoting important events and programs throughout the year. This includes campaigns for kindergarten registration, back-to-school information, student awards, and special programs like Career Camp and Land-Based Learning Camp and with the recent 2025 School Board Trustee Election. By continuing to improve how information is shared, Pembina Hills aims to keep everyone informed and connected.
Understanding School Funding in Pembina Hills
How much money does Pembina Hills School Division receive for each student? The answer is more complicated than it might seem. During recent teacher contract talks, a common statement is that Alberta has the lowest per-student funding in Canada. Premier Danielle Smith stated that Alberta pays between $12,000 and $14,000 per student, and research reports support this figure.
However, calculating the exact amount that Pembina Hills receives per student is tricky. The division has a large number of part-time students through Vista Virtual School, which affects the numbers. The funding system is also complex, with different amounts provided for different types of students and programs. For example, students in small rural schools, students with special needs, students learning English, and students who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit all bring different funding amounts to the division.
When looking at total funding divided by total students, Pembina Hills received approximately $10,581 per student in 2024/25 based on official population numbers. However, when counting students in a way that at least partially accounts for full-time versus part-time enrollment, the figure rises to about $11,762 per student.