Board Meeting Highlights - October 13, 2026
Additional information can be found in the October 13, 2026, Board Meeting Agenda package: https://www.myprps.com/news/oct-2026-prps-public-board-meeting-agenda
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Omar Bin Al-Khattab Campus Presentation
The Board received a presentation from Calgary Islamic School's Omar Bin Al-Khattab Campus, which serves students from Kindergarten to Grade 9.
The school currently serves approximately 558 students, an increase of 22 students over last year. The school community represents more than 35 ethnic backgrounds, with over 90 per cent of students identified as English language learners.
The presentation highlighted the school's focus on academic achievement, character development and student leadership, along with several programs and initiatives:
Literacy and Numeracy: The school is implementing targeted literacy and numeracy supports, including UFLI, Word Origins, reading initiatives and mathematics programming.
Student Supports: Students have access to learning support teachers, literacy and numeracy coordinators, educational assistants and scheduled academic support blocks.
School Priorities: Goals for the 2026–2027 school year include strengthening academic achievement, character development and student leadership.
Future Goals: The school is exploring opportunities to introduce advanced academic courses and additional STEM programming. Longer term, the school hopes to expand its programming through Grade 12, allowing students to continue their education at the campus.
The school also identified limited classroom space, outdoor play areas and opportunities for physical activity as ongoing challenges.
Executive Report
The Board received several updates as part of the Superintendent's Executive Report:
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation: On September 30, schools across Prairie Rose recognized the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Elders were invited to share their knowledge and experiences, with students participating in learning activities, storytelling and discussions throughout the day.
Literacy Professional Development: Prairie Rose recently hosted two days of professional development at Eagle Butte High School focused on the UFLI literacy framework and Word Origins for Kindergarten to Grade 6 educators. Prairie Rose was the first school division in Canada to participate in the full training. The learning focused on strengthening foundational literacy instruction, including morphology, which helps students understand word structure and meaning to improve reading comprehension. Staff from the neighbouring school divisions were also invited to participate in the training.
Enrollment Update
The Board received an update on student enrollment across Prairie Rose Public Schools for the 2026–2027 school year.
As of September 29, 2026, enrollment across Prairie Rose schools was approximately 5,369 students, representing an increase of 139 students, or approximately 2.66 per cent, compared to the previous school year. Enrolment is also 157 students above the division's original projections.
The report identified several notable changes:
South Alberta High School: Primary enrollment increased from 245 to 382 students, an increase of 137 students over last year.
Coulee Collegiate: Enrolment increased by 19 students compared to last year.
Oyen Public School: Enrollment increased from 87 to 100 students.
Colony Schools: Combined enrollment increased by 15 students to 342.
In addition to students whose primary enrollment is with Prairie Rose, approximately 1,000 students from other school authorities are currently taking courses through PRPS. This number is expected to increase as the school year progresses.
Human Resources Accountability Report
The Board received the annual Human Resources Accountability Report, providing an overview of staffing, recruitment, employee evaluations and personnel costs across Prairie Rose Public Schools.
The report identifies 714 staff positions for the 2026–2027 school year, compared to 670 positions in 2025–2026. This includes 345 certificated and professional staff positions and 369 support staff positions.
Highlights from the report include:
Staffing: The division has increased staffing in response to student enrollment and programming needs. The number of teaching positions, educational assistants and bus drivers has increased compared to the previous school year.
Class Sizes: Average class sizes across all grade levels remain below the Superintendent's recommended values, based on projected enrollment figures from May 2026.
Recruitment: Prairie Rose continues to experience recruitment challenges for some high school teaching positions and positions in more remote communities.
Employee Development: The division continues to support staff through professional learning, teacher evaluations and leadership development.
Personnel Costs: Total salary and benefit costs are projected at approximately $68.4 million for 2026–2027, compared to $58.8 million in 2025–2026.
Accolades
Trustees recognized:
The Human Resources team for their work recruiting, hiring and onboarding new employees for the start of the school year.
The Education team for organizing and delivering two days of professional development for Prairie Rose staff.
Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser and Director of Maintenance Darrell Drefs for their continued work advancing the new Redcliff school construction project.
Other Board Reports
The Board discussed its membership in provincial trustee associations. Trustees will gather additional information to evaluate the value of these memberships, with further discussion planned for an upcoming Board meeting.