Division Office ~
Key Policies Updated
Trustee Code of Conduct Updates
The Board has updated its Trustee Code of Conduct to align with new provincial legislation. These changes were required following the passage of Bill 51 (Education Amendment Act 2025) last spring.
What’s Changed:
- Trustees can no longer be disqualified from the Board for breaching the code of conduct. This change must be in place by October 21, 2025.
- The updated policy now includes references to Alberta’s Recall Act, which means trustees can be subject to valid recall petitions started by voters in their area.
These updates ensure the Board follows current Alberta legislation while maintaining high standards for trustee behaviour.
Committee Structure Improvements
The Board also approved a comprehensive update to its committee structure based on feedback from trustees and school division administration.
Key Changes Include
External Committees:
- ASBA Zone 2/3: A new process will help trustees learn about all available subcommittees before choosing which ones to join.
- Public School Boards’ Council: Clarified that all trustees are welcome at spring and fall meetings, but only designated representatives attend the four annual council meetings.
Community Committees:
- Removed committees: Joint Use Facilities/Admin Building Committee and Swan Hills Economic Development Group were removed because their work is now handled through other processes or doesn’t require regular trustee involvement.
- Clearer membership rules: For committees like Barrhead CARES, Swan Hills FCSS, and Westlock CONEX, only trustees whose areas overlap with the organization’s service area will be appointed.
Internal Committees:
- Streamlined structure: Removed the Union Grievance Committee since grievance procedures are already built into staff agreements.
- Updated membership: Several committees, including the Transportation Liaison and Indigenous Education Advisory, were adjusted to have one trustee instead of two, making them more efficient.
- Expanded scope: The Suspension/Expulsion Committee will now handle both student expulsion hearings and teacher suspension appeals.
Exciting Student Opportunity Approved
The Board approved in principle an international photography tour to London, England, for Barrhead Composite High School students from May 15-23, 2026.
This educational trip will give photography students hands-on learning opportunities as they capture images of historic landmarks, including the residence of Canada’s Monarch, Tower Bridge, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and world-famous museum artifacts like the Rosetta Stone.
The trip supports several photography course learning goals, including capturing images in different lighting conditions and developing professional image editing skills. Lead teacher Mr. Tyrrell has successfully organized previous student trips to London, New York, and Vancouver, and works hard to keep these experiences affordable for students while meeting all safety requirements.
Students and parents will now be informed about the trip, and detailed planning will continue.
A Partnership Worth Celebrating
The Pembina Hills School Division is proud to announce a new naming rights agreement that recognizes the outstanding community partnership with Peter Kiewit Sons ULC. The football field at École Westlock Elementary School will officially be known as “Kiewit Field” starting October 1, 2025.
This 10-year naming agreement celebrates Kiewit Equipment’s significant contributions to student athletics and educational programming in the Pembina Hills region.
Recent Kiewit Contributions Include:
- Donation of stadium lighting for the football field, dramatically improving safety and usability for student-athletes
- Sponsorship discussions for new football jerseys
- Support for the development of change rooms at the facility
- Partnership in the division’s Career Camp program, which helps Grade 10 students explore future career opportunities
“Kiewit has been a fantastic donor and community partner,” said Secretary Treasurer Heather Nanninga. “Their investments benefit current and future students, both on the field and in the classroom.“
The Board will review the agreement one year before its expiration.
Beyond Athletics: Career Camp Partnership
Kiewit’s support extends beyond the football field. The company has been an active partner in Pembina Hills’ Career Camp program, which gives Grade 10 students hands-on exposure to various career pathways. This program helps students make informed decisions about their futures by connecting classroom learning with real-world career exploration.