Board ratifies collective agreement with ATA

Following several months of negotiations, the board ratified a four-year agreement with the Alberta Teachers’ Association. The agreement ends August 31, 2024.

International trip for BCHS students approved

The Board approved, in principle, an international trip for Barrhead Composite High School Portrait Photography students to New York in May, 2024.   

This trip will allow photography students to practice their outdoor photography skills in iconic locations including Central Park, Times Square and the Brooklyn Bridge. Students will also be able to work with a professional photographer from the New York Times and work towards academic credits as part of the trip.

Barrhead Band Boosters Association support for band program

The Barrhead Band Boosters Association made a presentation to the board as a delegation at the June 21 meeting. The Band Boosters has a long and generous history with the band program at Barrhead Composite High School, including donating instruments. Band Boosters is very active in fundraising and puts on numerous events each year.  

Band Boosters requested that the board remove instrument rental fees from the schedule of board-approved student fees, Rates Annex 1. The board agreed that instrument rental fees should be determined at the school level and included that change in the fee schedule for the 2023-2024 school year.

Facilities Assurance Report

Facilities Director Tracy Tyreman presented the board with an overview of the department’s structure and priorities. Mr. Tyreman presented this information through the context of the department’s mission statement to “maintain and upgrade our facilities to provide a safe and pleasing environment that continues to meet the educational needs of our students and protects staff, property and the general public.”. 

Mr. Tyreman provided an update on several recent projects in the department, including site remediation at the former Vimy school; mechanical system replacement, office renovation, and washroom replacements at Westlock Elementary School and the completion of the gym and exterior renovations at Busby School.

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda and minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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2023-2024 Operating Budget Approved

At the May 24th meeting, Acting Secretary-Treasurer Gordon Majeran presented the upcoming school year budget. The Board adopted the 2023-2024 Operating Budget with revenues of $68.1 million and expenses of $69.3 million. By the end of August 2024, the division’s deficit is projected to be $1.15 million (1.66% of budgeted expenses) and will be covered by school and board reserves.

Highlights from the budget include:

• Staffing increases:
  • 6.6 FTE for Certificated staff (4.0FTE Inclusive Education Lead teachers, 2.6FTE instructional teachers)
• Increase in Transportation funding of approximately $700,000

The 2023-2024 budget assumes that schools and grade configurations will continue to operate as they did in the 2022-23 year. 

See the full budget report here.

Board Approves 2023-2026 Education Plan 

Director of Education Services, Raime Drake, presented the Three-Year Education Plan for 2023-2026. The following priorities will remain, with refined and newly created strategies to support:

• Student-Staff Relationships – Positive relationships between students and staff are the foundation upon which we build students’ resilience, confidence and mental well-being.
• Literacy and Numeracy – Literacy and Numeracy are critical for Student Achievement in all areas of the curriculum.
• Support for Staff (Collaborative Structures/Culture) – A collaborative environment enables staff to teach a diverse student population through purposeful inclusion and supports the implementation of effective practices.

The Education Plan is reviewed and revised annually with input from communities, parents, students and staff. The document highlights strategies to improve student learning in Pembina Hills. The plan, along with measures as data is released, the previous AERR and financial documents continue to be located on the division website at www.pembinahills.ca/assurance-reporting/.

Transportation Fees Reduced

The Board passed a motion to reduce the Transportation Fee for students not currently eligible for Provincial Transportation funding to $100 for the 2023-2024 school year. Full details and eligibility information can be found on the division website.

Board receives Transportation Assurance Report

Acting Transportation Director David Sharpe presented the Board with a detailed report on the transportation services the division provides to students. 

View: Transportation Assurance Report

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda and minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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Transportation Fees & Service Changes

The Board passed a motion to suspend the In-Town Busing Fees and Rural Transportation Fees for eligible funded students, as set out in Rates Annex RA4, for the 2023-2024 school year and that the School of Choice transportation service only be provided for students currently approved under Administrative Procedure 50-01 Requesting a School other than Designated School. More information will be sent to parents and posted on the division and school websites soon.

More parents completing satisfaction surveys

Superintendent Michael Borgfjord presented the 2022-2023 Pembina Hills Satisfaction Survey Summary to the Board of Trustees. Each year the division surveys grades 4-12 students, parents and staff on a variety of subjects. The results are used by schools and the division to develop their annual education plans and to find ways to improve the educational experience of students.

Of note, the surveys were sent out in late January and early February rather than December to encourage more respondents. The response rate for parents increased significantly from previous years, jumping to 39% from 22% in 2021-2022. Responses from students, parents and staff continually indicate that these groups feel our schools are safe and caring. There is work to be done in a few areas, but overall the Board and administration are pleased with the results. 

READ MORE: Full summary of the Satisfaction Survey results

Enhancing career opportunities for high school students 

The Board received information on the 2022-23 Work Experience, Registered Apprenticeship Program (RAP) and Dual Credit programming in the division. There are 204 students in Work Experience, 24 in RAP placements and 1 in Dual Credit course(s). The Board and division administration are looking at steps to further support opportunities and connections to school communities. 

READ MORE: Work Experience, RAP & Dual Credit Report

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda and minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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Public Education Advocacy

The Board discussed Public Education advocacy plans for the upcoming provincial election. Parents, the public and staff will soon begin to see content on the division and school websites, newsletters etc. promoting Public Education, including sample education-themed questions that the public can use to ask their local party candidate.

Board Policies Amended

Amendments to the following policies were discussed and approved: Policy P07-02 Board Operations – Regular Meetings, Policy P07-01 Board Operations – Organizational Meeting and Policy P07-10 Board Operations – Trustee Compensation. Updated policies will be available on the division website. See the drafted changes in the Agenda and Minutes.

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda & minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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2023-2024 Alternate School Year Calendars Approved

Alberta Education mandates a minimum number of instructional hours for all students – 950 for elementary and junior high school students and 1,000 hours for high school students.  

This requirement, along with bus schedules, means that some schools have longer days than others and therefore more instructional hours than are required. To address this, schools have the option of developing alternate school year calendars that designate specific days as “alternate days” in which students and staff do not attend. Alternate days vary by school depending on start and end times and community-specific events.

Because each school’s calendar is different, they must be individually approved by the board. At their February 22 meeting, trustees reviewed and approved the proposed 2023-2024 alternate school calendars. The approved calendars will be posted on the division and school websites.  

Alternate calendars were approved for:

• Barrhead Composite High School
• Busby School
• Pibroch & Sunny Bend Colony Schools
• Dunstable School
• Eleanor Hall School
• Fort Assiniboine School
• Neerlandia Public Christian School
• Pembina North Community School
• R.F. Staples Secondary School
• Swan Hills School

R. F. Staples Extra-Curricular Trip to California

The Board granted approval in principle for the R.F. Staples Secondary School senior boys’ and senior girls’ basketball teams to take an extracurricular trip to San Diego and Anaheim, California from December 26, 2023, to January 2, 2024.

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda & minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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Student Services presents assurance report

Assistant Superintendent of Student Services, Dr. Rob McGarva, presented the Board with a comprehensive report on the support services that the division provides to its students. Dr. McGarva indicated that from the pandemic, we are still seeing high levels of absences this year and that the new respiratory illnesses in children is also impacting academics. Alberta Education provided a learning loss grant but with delays in funding, it has been difficult to recruit staff or move people during the year. Work continues on expanding the impact of job postings.

Dr. McGarva notes that there has been an increase in complexity of needs with students requiring multiple adults at one time to support them putting physical and psychological stress on staff. The Mental Health grant allowed Pembina Hills to hire additional staff with training in social work or human services, focused on attendance and connecting families to community resources. School administrators will focus on well-being of staff. Additional training is being provided for Educational Assistants as well as crisis response training all school staff. New practices are also being implemented with the division’s Regulation Specialist.

2023-2026 Capital Plan

The Board approved the proposal and recommendation presented by Superintendent Michael Borgford for the Barrhead Composite High School Modernization and Right Sizing as its single project for the 2023-2026 capital plan. The Town of Barrhead is currently discussing the need for new community centre partnerships and possible child care spaces, and has expressed an interest in discussing a joint use project with the division.

2022-2023 Alternate school calendars amended

In the fall of 2022, Alberta Education released details of the Provincial Achievement Testing Program which included defined dates for the tests. This has created a conflict for four of Pembina Hills Schools (Eleanor Hall, Dunstable, Neerlandia Public Christian and Fort Assiniboine). As a result, the Board approved administration’s recommendation that the school calendar for these schools be amended to accommodate the Grade 6 and 9 Mathematics test dates.

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda and minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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2021-2022 Annual Education Results Report (AERR) approved

One of the key ways that school divisions demonstrate accountability and provide assurance is through the development and publication of Education Plans and Annual Education Results Reports (AERRs). Education Plans identify priorities, outcomes, measures and strategies to improve in key areas, while the AERR provides the results achieved from implementing the plan. Director of Education Services, Raime Drake, presented the AERR for the 2021-2022 school year. Data and commentary in the report highlight successes and challenges from last year and identifies the next steps for continued improvement in Pembina Hills. The five domain areas include Student Growth & Achievement, Teaching & Leading, Learning Supports, Governance and Local & Societal Context.  The report and other assurance documents can be found on the Pembina Hills website.

Provincial Achievement Test (PAT) Provincial Diploma Exam Results

The Provincial Achievement Tests (PATs) and Provincial Diploma Exams that took place in June 2022 were the first provincial exams students have written since 2019. Participation rates were lower than in years prior to the pandemic with a number of students not writing exams for a variety of reasons including, but not limited to, illness, mental health-related exemptions and combined grades cohorts not writing in the year the subject was taught.

Grade 6 Provincial Achievement results are comparable to the province in English Language Arts and Mathematics. Achievement results are lower in Social Studies and Science, due to the focus of instruction being placed on Language Arts and Mathematics during remote learning.

Grade 9 Provincial Achievement results were lower than anticipated across the four core subject areas. There is recognition that this cohort of students has not written final exams in their junior high years and have been negatively impacted by the pandemic disruptions to learning and assessment.

Diploma Exam results follow past trends of achievement. Pembina Hills’ results are higher than the provincial averages in many of the subject areas including English 30-1 and 30-2, Social Studies 30-1 and 30-2 and Biology 30. Achievement in Mathematics 30-1 and 30-2 is lower than the provincial average. This has been identified as an area of focus in the 2022-2025 Education Plan.

VIEW: PAT & PDE Results Summary

2023-2024 School Calendar Approved

The Board approved the calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. The division develops the calendar based on operational and instructional needs as well as feedback collected from parents and staff. 

For schools with alternate schedules, their Alternate Calendars will be designed with school councils over the next few months and posted on the school and division websites. 

VIEW: Approved 2023-2024 PHSD Calendar

READ MORE: Board Agendas & Minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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Audited financial statements approved

All publicly funded organizations in Alberta are required to publish annual financial statements that are audited by a professional accountant. After meeting with the external auditor for Pembina Hills, the Board approved the 2021-2022 financial statements for Pembina Hills School Division.

Mental health grant funding application approved

Alberta Education has approved Pembina Hills’ application for $542,000 in mental health support and service funding through the government’s Mental Health in Schools Pilot program. This funding will be put towards new and innovative ways to support the mental health and well-being of students.

Barrhead Rotary Music Festival sponsorship approved

The Board approved sponsorship of Pembina Hills students to participate in the 43rd Annual Barrhead Rotary Music Festival in March 2023. After two years of a virtual festival, the music festival will be returning to an in-person event.  

Westlock football field getting new name

The Board approved a request made by R.F. Staples Secondary School teacher, and co-founder of the Westlock Football Association, Jerry Buchko, for the Westlock Football Association to rename the Westlock Thunderbirds Field to “Kiewit Field”. Kiewit Construction Canada has been one of the biggest sponsors of the field, donating over $50,000 in lighting for the annual Friday Night Lights game in October 2022. The company has also supported the association by loaning generators to light the field, the concession booth and the score clock.   

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda and minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, December 14, 2022
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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International trips for BCHS & R.F. Staples Students Approved

The Board approved, in principle, two international trips for Barrhead Composite High School and R.F. Staples Secondary School students. 

Due to a scheduling issue, the previously approved Barrhead Composite High School trip planned for spring break 2023 will now include Paris, Riviera and Rome. R.F. Staples Travel Club students will be traveling to New York at the end of April 2023. 

Membership in the PSBAA Accepted

The motion was passed to accept membership in the Public School Boards Association of Alberta (PSBAA). 

Facilities Information Update

Director of Facilities, Tracy Tyreman, presented an overview of the capital and maintenance projects done during the summer months. See the Facilities Information Update for photos and a list of the projects completed.

Communications Assurance Report

Pembina Hills uses a number of digital tools to engage and communicate with parents and guardians. Registration and consent forms as well as payments are completed online through PowerSchool. 

School Messenger has also been a very valuable tool to get messaging to parents and guardians quickly, through email, phone or SMS (text) messages. Safe Arrival will be piloted before rolling out as a tool for parents to communicate student absences.

Information Technology (IT) Assurance Report

Director of Information Technology, Alex Mottus, provided the Board with the annual overview of the IT department’s operations and some of their main projects. Some key projects that IT are working on are replacing smartboard equipment with interactive displays, wireless upgrades and reviewing security. See the full IT Assurance Report for more details.

Policies Amended

Pembina Hills School Divison has a thorough policy framework that guides the direction of the Division. In an effort to make sure that these policies remain up-to-date, the Board’s Policy Committee meets several times each year and makes recommendations to the Board for changes.

• Policy 08 Committees of the Board – Appendix A – an update was made to a component of the Wellness Champions Committee structure.
• Policy 27 Division Citizenship Awards – changes were made to the Grade 12 award application process, recipients, acknowledgement and presentation. 

Board Meeting Start Time Changed to 9:30 a.m.

The Board passed a motion to change the start times of their meetings to 9:30 a.m. 

READ MORE: Board meeting agenda and minutes

Next School Board Meeting
Wednesday, November 30, 2022
Regional Office
9:30 a.m.

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Membership in the PSBAA to be decided at October 26 meeting

The Board met with executives from the Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta (PSBAA) and received a presentation and opportunity to ask questions. The Board agreed to have the issue of membership in the PSBAA be placed on the agenda for the October 26, 2022 Board meeting. 

Board tours Barrhead Elementary School

Trustees had the opportunity to visit with students and staff in the afternoon and hear about the school’s work towards their literacy goals for students. 

Check out the board meeting agenda and minutes for more information. 

The next school board meeting is at Regional Office on Wednesday, October 26, 2022 starting at 9:00 a.m.

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