The High Prairie School Division Board of Trustees met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, November 14. The meeting began with additions to the agenda, approval of the consent agenda, and then progressed through the agenda items.
Trustees received a delegation from MNP LLP to present the audited financial statement for the fiscal year ending on August 31, 2023. The Board approved the audited financial statement as presented.
Safety Coordinator Katie Doucette presented the option of having Naloxone nasal spray in schools. Trustees asked questions about the spray itself, necessary training, risk mitigation, and context for the provision of the spray.
The Board discussed school bus driver compensation for field trips. This would address compensation for drivers who transport students to extracurricular activities outside of their home communities. After a conversation between the Trustees, the next step will be to present a recommendation to the Board at an upcoming meeting with details on a proposed compensation package.
The next agenda item discussed was the installation of vape detectors in schools. Superintendent Marran presented an option available to the Division that mirrors the process taken by Holy Family Catholic Regional Division. Trustees approved a motion to have testing performed to determine vape detector installation requirements for schools of greatest concern to a maximum of $5,000 from operating reserves.
Superintendent Marran presented a proposed revision of one component of Administrative Procedure 241 - Healthy School Communities, nutrition, for feedback from Trustees. Following the discussion, Superintendent Marran will provide a complete revision of Administrative Procedure 241 - Healthy School Communities.
Trustees debated the drafting of a letter to the Town of Slave Lake regarding safety concerns. Trustees have directed administration to develop a letter to discuss concerns.
The Board had a discussion on their presence at Parent-Teacher Interviews (PTIs) and engagement with the school community. Trustees will continue to engage with parents in these types of events that have large numbers of parents and guardians attending and available to provide feedback on what the Division is doing well and what could be improved.
Trustees relayed information on the professional development that they accessed at the most recent Public School Board Association (PSBA) meeting. The Board noted that the professional development received from PSBA is excellent and allowed Trustees to work collaboratively through the training and provide quality support for constituents. This conversation then led to the next agenda item regarding online engagement and the action to be taken by administration to complete the survey design and distribution to families and the community.
Board Chair McGregor presented updates to the attendance policy and electronics policy that Roland Michener Secondary School is implementing. These were discussed in great detail at the school council meetings in the Fall, with the school community, at school engagement sessions, and with the Division after reviewing other school procedures.
Trustees then had a discussion on the school year calendar and the operational calendar and the difference between non-operational days, professional development days, and days in lieu of parent-teacher interviews.
The Board approved the 2022-23 Annual Education Results Report (AERR). The report, which was discussed in the closed portion of the meeting due to embargoed content, will be made available to the public on November 30, 2023.
The Memorandum of Agreement between The High Prairie School Division and the Alberta Teachers Association Local 62 was ratified by the Board of Trustees.
Trustees received the Finance Report and the Superintendent's Report.
The Board then discussed the request to meet with Ministers and local Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) relevant to the concerns of note to the Division. Of the 10 Ministers and MLAs, two have confirmed their ability to meet with Trustees.
School reports to the Board were then discussed, with dates and times being confirmed for Trustees.