Division Office ~
Board to ask province to review rural small-school funding
Pembina Hills is asking the provincial government to take another look at how rural small schools are funded.
The Board reviewed the Division’s student enrolment report as of September 29 and requested the Superintendent’s assistance in drafting a letter to Alberta Education and Childcare. The letter will ask the province to review its funding model for rural small schools. The current model assigns block funding based on specific student enrolment thresholds. If the enrolment drops even by one single student into a lower tier, the funding decreases substantially, without the recognition that the same level of services must be provided.
Small rural schools play an important role in our communities, providing local learning opportunities for students and families. The Board’s request reflects the importance of ensuring the provincial funding model recognizes the needs and realities of smaller schools.
Board supports report on child development and disability supports, Pembina Hills to be included as signatory
Pembina Hills is continuing its work to improve support for children with disabilities and their families across Alberta.
The Board supported the submission of the Technical Report by the Alberta Child Development and Disability Supports Advisory Group, with Pembina Hills School Division being included as a signatory to the report through its representatives and members to the Advisory Group.
Since the spring, trustee representatives and senior administration have been participating in a provincial advisory group convened by the Alberta Medical Association of Pediatrics, bringing a rural public education perspective to discussions about child development and access to disability supports. The group includes physicians, researchers, disability and developmental service providers, allied health professionals, school board representatives, people with lived experiences and others working to identify ways to improve access and advocate for coordination and continuity of supports across programs and services.
The report reflects the Advisory Group’s work and solutions to government to improve access to supports, and strengthen transitions for children and families from birth to adulthood. Pembina Hills is pleased to contribute to this important provincial work.
Once the report is publicly released, the Board will present the Alberta Child Development and Disability Supports Advisory Group’s recommendations at a regular board meeting, providing an opportunity to share the findings and discuss their importance for children, families and rural public education.
Communications report: Keeping families connected
From school news and social media to online registration and absence reporting, Pembina Hills School Division uses a variety of tools to keep families and staff informed and connected.
The Board received the 2025–2026 Communications Assurance Report from Assistant Coordinator of Communications Jan Carswell. The report outlined division-wide communications activities, support provided to schools, and how communications work connects to the Division’s three priorities: Wellness, Thriving Communities and Engaged Learners.
The Division’s website recorded more than 217,000 sessions during the year, while its Facebook content received more than 826,000 views.
The report highlighted the many digital tools that help families and staff access information and services, including PowerSchool, Rycor, SchoolEngage, SchoolMessenger and SafeArrival.
Communications also supports schools with website content, social media, graphic design, training and resources to help them share information with their communities. Board Chair, Judy Lefebvre, thanked Mrs. Carswell for her presentation and continued work supporting the Division and the Board.
Board approves policy updates
The Pembina Hills School Division Board of Trustees approved updates to four policies. Three policies – Policy 01 Foundation Statements, Policy 02 Role of the Board and Policy 30 A Place for All – were updated to reflect changes in provincial legislation. The previous wording, “welcoming, caring and respectful,” was replaced with the legislated language “a safe and caring environment that fosters and maintains respectful and responsible behaviours.“
The Board also approved significant updates to Policy 15 – Grade Configuration and School Closures. The revisions clarify how the Division reviews school viability and considers potential grade reconfigurations or school closures.
The updated policy introduces an annual review of school viability, requires alternatives to be considered before a school closure review begins, and outlines a more detailed process for public consultation. It also strengthens requirements for sharing information with affected families and communities and reflects recent changes to provincial legislation.
Together, these updates provide clearer direction for the Board and Division while helping ensure that school communities have opportunities to receive information, ask questions and provide input when decisions may affect them.