Updated April 9, 2020 –
Due to COVID-19 and the cancellation of school council meetings, the school board is asking members of the public to provide feedback about Option 4 for the Electoral Ward Review. See details below.
Please contact your school board trustee by email or phone before April 20th to share your thoughts. Trustee contact information is here.
At the February 26th board meeting the school board released the Electoral Ward Review ‘What We Heard’ report. Based on the input received, the board is considering a fourth option, with six (6) wards and six (6) trustees.
In option 4, wards have been created using existing municipal and council divisions. This will create a better representation by population between municipal and student numbers, while taking into account that some areas are more sparsely populated. Since school board elections are held in conjunction with municipal elections, this structure will also create a simplified experience for both voters and trustee candidates by clearly defining electoral lines.
Electoral Wards - Option 4
| Electoral Ward | Municipal Divisions located in ward | Schools located in ward | Municipal Population (est) | Student Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pembina Hills East - Ward 1 | Westlock County - Div 1, 2, 4, 5 Village of Clyde | Busby, Eleanor Hall | 4,040 | 375 |
| Pembina Hills East - Ward 2 | Westlock County - Div 3, 6, 7 MD of Lesser Slave River* | Pembina North Community, Colony Schools, Vista Virtual School | 3,610 | 258 |
| Pembina Hills - Town of Westlock - Ward 3 | Town of Westlock | R.F. Staples, Westlock Outreach, Westlock Elementary | 5,101 | 1,184 |
| Pembina Hills West - Ward 1 | County of Barrhead - Div 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 | Neerlandia Public Christian, Dunstable | 5,389 | 252 |
| Pembina Hills West - Ward 2 | County of Barrhead - Div 6 Woodlands County - Div 5*, 6, 7 Town of Swan Hills Big Lakes County* | Fort Assiniboine, Swan Hills | 3,752 | 300 |
| Pembina Hills - Town of Barrhead - Ward 3 | Town of Barrhead | Barrhead Composite, Barrhead Outreach, Barrhead Elementary | 4,579 | 1,410 |
* Indicates only the portion that is within Pembina Hills School Division
Although specific schools are located within each ward, it’s important to note that trustees do not represent any one school or community. They make decisions based on the entire needs of the division. Responsibilities at school sites, and board representatives for ADLC and VVS can still be assigned at the board table as student populations fluctuate.