Judi Hunter – Ward 5 Trustee
Schools are well into the swing of learning. For the most part there is a return to a normal school year. An exception would be travel outside of the country. Rocky View Schools will not approve out-of-country travel this year. Travel within Canada will continue.
Rocky View School District continues to grow by about 1000 students per year. The Board is in dire need of new schools and portables to accommodate the rise in student population. The Board met with Minister LaGrange to advocate for new schools in Rocky View. The Board will actively be engaging with communities to highlight the extreme need for student accommodation in Rocky View schools.
In its effort to support school councils and the work that councils do in support of students and parents, the Board hosted a by-laws workshop for school councils October 6, and on October 27, 2022 held the joint School Council/ School Board meeting, its first in person meeting in over 2 years.
Alberta Education Minister Adriana LaGrange has appointed lawyer Julia Sproule as the province’s first teaching profession commissioner. Her five-year contract begins January 1, 2023. Sproule will oversee a new complaint process for the province’s 46 000 teachers.
Tuesday, October 11, Rocky View Schools enabled SMS/text messaging service to parents, which will be used to disseminate timely information, such as school closures from both RVS and the schools their children attend.
Alberta Education has awarded $4 million in dual credit start-up and enhancement funding to 43 school authorities for the 2022/23 school year. RVS schools received a $50 000 grant to assist students enrolled in dual-credit programs. Below are the institutions that RVS high school kids are enrolled in:
- 2 SAIT pre-employment
- 3 second year welding at Olds College
- 12 online at Olds College in various courses
- 11 online at SAIT in various courses
- 28 in Turning Point which is a trades exploration course
- 32 in Tech for Ag at Olds College
- 5 in Vet Tech Assistant course at Olds College
- 40 females will be taking part in “Jill of All Trades” (planning still in progress)
This funding enables school authorities, public charter and accredited funded independent (private) schools to provide students in Grades 10, 11 and 12 with learning experiences to earn both high school credits and credits that count toward a post- secondary certificate, diploma, or degree, including a journeyperson certificate. These learning experiences will be developed in collaboration with an eligible post-secondary, business and/or industry partner.
Education continues to see educational options for parents, and school boards are trying to meet the needs of families. A remote island in British Columbia is an example.
A recent article in the Edmonton Journal gives some interesting information about the indigenous population in Alberta. Rocky View schools has set Truth and Reconciliation as a focus area, the article sets out the need for continued work. Link to article www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/indigenous-population-in-edmonton-area-continues-to-grow-statistics-canada-says-1.6624253
Mental health continues to be in the forefront of educational decisions. Parents, teachers and students are advocating for greater mental-health supports. The recent “Support Public Education” rally in Edmonton spoke this issue in a list of others. A recent immigrant youth summit also focused on mental health support needs.
