Joanna Brownlee – Ward 4 Trustee

The Board approved the 2026/27 operating budget, reaffirming its commitment to strong stewardship, financial sustainability and high-quality learning environments for more than 29,925 students. The $385.7 million budget prioritizes directing the majority of resources into classrooms, ensuring students receive the supports they need for learning, well-being and success, while also maintaining safe, effective facilities and services. Approximately 87 per cent of instructional funding will go directly to schools, with the remainder supporting essential system- wide learning services such as curriculum implementation, mental health supports, Indigenous education and technology. The budget includes an expected additional 115 teaching staff, bringing the total to approximately 1,603 teachers and school administrators.

With the end of this school year, the previous boards strategic plan will reach its expiration date. This means that over the last few months The Board have been working to develop a new strategic plan. This plan will set priorities and support student success over the 2026–2030 school years. An online survey was open from Feb. 23 to March 9, and gathered input from students, staff, parents and community partners through a series of open-ended questions designed to understand their hopes for children’s education and school experience. RVS received 1,921 survey responses amounting to more than 400 pages of comments, which provide valuable insight into community priorities, challenges and opportunities. Feedback has been analyzed and key themes identified to inform the next phase of development of the Strategic Plan. A summary of the feedback is posted on RVS engage. The Board is currently using this input to draft strategic priorities and outcomes. Additional public feedback on the draft plan was sought beginning April 27 and final approval of the 2026–2030 Strategic Plan is anticipated in June.

In response to the Government of Alberta’s decision to hold a province wide referendum on Oct. 19, 2026, which requires the use of schools as polling stations, the Board approved an amendment to the 2026/27 school calendar. To minimize disruption to student learning, maintain safety and support operational requirements, the Board approved moving a scheduled professional learning day from Oct. 9 to Oct. 19, making it a non-instructional day for students while preserving overall instructional time.

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