Board Meeting Highlights - September 9, 2025

Additional information can be found in the September 9, 2025, Board Meeting Agenda package: https://www.myprps.com/news/september-9-2025-public-board-meeting-20250908180233

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Executive Report

• Additional Grant Funding 
  The division received adjustments to its 2025/26 funding profile to reflect the transfer of Akram Jomaa and Omar Bin Al Khattab schools to the division. This includes an increase of $667,374 in System Administration Grant funding and $392,070 in Teacher Salary Settlement Grant funding, bringing the allocations to $3,223,806 and $1,280,520 respectively.
   
• Dual Credit Grant Awards
  • Start-Up Grant: Prairie Rose has been awarded $50,000 to launch an Aircraft Maintenance Engineering dual credit program in partnership with SAIT.
     
  • Enhancement Grant: The division also received $88,000 to expand apprenticeship pathways in the trades, including Automotive Service Technician, Carpenter, Electrician, Pipe Trades, Welder, and Power Engineering (in partnership with Medicine Hat College).
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• Ag Pro Series Expansion: The Ag Pro Series, a hands-on agricultural education program, will expand to Schuler and Foremost schools, joining Irvine, Senator Gershaw, and Seven Persons in offering the elective courses. Students will explore areas such as beef, crops, machinery, and beekeeping through field trips, industry connections, and project-based learning.
   
• Prairie Rose Honey Program: Bee colonies established last spring produced a successful harvest of natural honey over the summer. Students will now take over hive care, with honey sales supporting program growth. The public can purchase one-pound jars of raw honey through School Cash Online, with pick-up at the Division Office in Dunmore.
   
• Oyen Value Scoping Approval: Prairie Rose received news that the value scoping request, as part of the division’s Capital Plan submission, has been approved for Oyen schools. The value scoping process will include a comprehensive review of both Oyen Public School and South Central High School to determine what type of modernization or new facility would best suit the current and future needs of students in the region.

Financial Resolution

Trustees approved the renewal of the annual ATB borrowing resolution, a precautionary measure providing up to $750,000 in short-term borrowing authority. While this option has never been used, it is renewed annually to ensure financial preparedness.

Board Policy and Procedure Updates

• Trustees reviewed and approved Board Policies 1–25 following a thorough review by the board policy committee. Updates ensure compliance with ministerial orders and streamline processes. Final formatted versions will be posted on the division website.
   
• Administrative procedures were updated for compliance with recent ministerial orders. Key areas include:
  • At-Home Learning
  • Gender Identity, Sexual Orientation, and Human Sexuality Topics
  • Selection and Review of Learning Materials
  • Challenged Learning Materials
  • Extra-Curricular Activities

Commendations

The Board recognized the following contributions across the division:

• Prairie Rose Honey: Thanks to Sheldon Hill and Stella Sehn for their leadership and support in growing the program and providing trustees with a summer tour.
   
• South Central High School: Appreciation to maintenance staff for doing an incredible job of the washroom upgrades over the summer.
   
• Rodeo Academy: Recognition to teacher Brittany Komistek for her exceptional mentorship and support of an out-of-province student, going above and beyond her role as teacher and program leader of the Foremost Rodeo Academy.