February 14, 2023 Board Meeting Highlights

The complete agenda package can be found here: February 14, 2023 Board Meeting Agenda

Burdett School Presentation

Principal Cheryl Rebmann made a presentation to the board showcasing the many initiatives at Burdett School. The school is a K-9 school (approx 160 students) serving a primarily Low German Speaking Mennonite population. The presentation focused on how the school has incorporated the new division-wide education goals of kindle hearts, ignite minds and forge futures into daily activities and lessons. For the school’s exhibition of learning this spring, they will highlight fine and gross motor skills, writing, music, a 3D map, flow reading and passion projects. The full presentation can be found in the Board Agenda package.

Trades, Apprenticeships and Vocational Education

Superintendent Reagan Weeks provided a summary of the programming options available to PRPS students to connect the work done in school to future prospects. In the first semester of the current school year, 1,955 credits were awarded to students in the Trades, Apprenticeships and Vocational Education (TAVE) area. An overview of the courses students take to earn these credits was shared. Categories include flight and aviation, business, comm tech and design, cosmetology, industrial tech, home economics and foods, work experience, green certificate, RAP, dual credit and natural resources. It was noted that many students also receive credits through Coulee Collegiate for Human Social Services (HSS) and Health Care Services (HCS) courses. In total, PRPS has four dual credit agreements with institutions in Alberta. It was also shared that work preparation satisfaction rates recorded within the Annual Education Results for PRPS were 91% compared to 84.9% at the provincial level, whereas satisfaction rates with program access 83.3% compared to 72.6% provincially.

Seven Persons Shop Project

The PRPS Board received a request from Seven Persons School to support their plan to create a shop adjacent to the school. The proposal, presented in January, indicated that while the school currently has a small outdoor covered space for shop-type activities, they are limited by weather and code restrictions. It was also noted that currently, it is difficult for the school to provide a full complement of trades education due to the distance and travel time to access support either in Medicine Hat or Bow Island. The request from the school was for administrative and technical expertise, as well as financial support. The school requested $80,000 to support the project. Graeme Dennis made a motion to allocate $80,000 from PRPS Capital Reserves towards the project. The board approved the motion.