Five-Year Education Plan

The Peace River School Division Board of Trustees have agreed to move forward with the creation of a five-year education plan. In previous years, the education plan has spanned three-years. However, during recent consultation with the Division’s administrators the Board heard significant support for a five-year plan. 

Deputy Superintendent Jeff Thompson explained that a five year plan allows administrators to spend more time implementing the specific goals and strategies included in the education plan and less time in the planning and development stages of an education plan. 

Advocacy: School Attendance

The Board of Trustees heard from Communications Coordinator Kristin Dyck regarding a positive advocacy campaign aimed at student attendance. Following the Pandemic, regular school attendance remains a significant challenge to education across the PRSD. The campaign titled “Attendance Matters,” focuses on the positive impact regular attendance can have on individual student success. As part of the campaign, the Board of Trustees approved a poster contest challenging PRSD students to show off their artistic talents while telling the Board of Trustees why they think regular school attendance is important to student success. Winners of the poster contest will earn their class a pizza party and will be announced following the April board meeting.

Department Presentation: Technology

The Board of Trustees were provided with an update from the Division’s Technology Department. The presentation included information on the Division’s progress with their classroom evergreen update, an initiative to replace and improve upon older technology in all classrooms across the division. The technology department also spoke to the Board of Trustees about the very real threat of cyber security attacks. 

“My goal is to be the fastest gazelle on the plain,” explained Technology Manager Shayne Pierson. “They could still catch us if they wanted to, but will hopefully go after easier targets instead.”

Before concluding their presentation, the technology department requested that the Board of Trustees assist them by advocating for a provincial strategy for K-12 information security and additional funding for technology in schools, as this infrastructure is no longer optional in today’s education system.

Policy 4: Trustee Code of Conduct

The Board of Trustees passed second and third readings of Policy 4: Trustee Code of Conduct. The updated policy is significantly more robust than the previous policy and available for viewing on the PRSD website.

Conference Attendance

The Board of Trustees discussed attendance at three upcoming conferences: the Alberta Rural Education Symposium, College of Alberta School Superintendents Indigenous Education Gathering, and the Alberta School Councils Association (ASCA) Annual Conference. In addition to discussing their own attendance at these conferences, the Board also clarified the ability of PRSD parents to also attend the ASCA Annual Conference. A motion was carried to set aside $8,000 for conference expenses for any and all interested parent council representatives who wishes to attend the ASCA annual conference on April 26-28 in Edmonton.