GYPSD news

Mar. 21 meeting

Trustees approved a new Board Policy Handbook, effective March 21, 2018. The board recently contracted the Alberta School Boards’ Association (ASBA) to review all of the board’s policies to ensure conformity and legality with current legislative guidelines and practices, as well as alignment with the division’s priorities. After the review with the ASBA consultant, all the current board policies were rescinded, and replaced with a new Board Policy Handbook that aligns with his recommendations. The ASBA consultant also reviewed the division’s Administrative procedures which have also been revised and amended as per his recommendations. All new policies and administrative procedures will be posted on the division’s website.

Grande Yellowhead School Division recognizes the importance of student engagement and student voice, and the board is proud to sponsor high school students’ participation in the Superintendent’s Youth Council. The council is composed of five high students per high school, including the Learning Connection students in Hinton. Students were chosen from all GYPSD high schools who demonstrated a diverse range of interests, identities and perspectives, are passionate about and willing to share experience knowledge and skills, and demonstrated interest in leadership opportunities both at the division and school level. Trustees received information on the Council’s various activities and initiatives to date and approved additional funding for students on the council to attend an upcoming meeting in Red Deer with the Public School Boards’ Association in June.

The board approved their Three-Year Capital Plan (2019-2022) and Ten-Year Facilities Plan (2019- 2028), subject to funding by Alberta Education being in place at the appropriate time. The board’s top three priorities for a full modernization are Grand Trunk High School and Evansview School in Evansburg, and Wildwood School in Wildwood.

Public Board meeting dates for the 2018-2019 school year were established at today’s meeting.

The second quarter financial report noted that the division continues to be on track with revenues and expenses up to the period ending February 28, 2018.

Trustees congratulated Brittnay Sopko from Summitview School in Grande Cache as their nominee for this year’s Edwin Parr Teacher Award. All school boards may nominate a first year teacher along with supporting evidence to demonstrate how the nominee meets the criteria set by the Alberta School Boards’ Association.