SPN Staff
Board approves 2021-22 calendar
Supt. Paul Bennett provided a review of the process involved in developing the proposed 2021-22 school calendar at the board’s March 25 meeting.
Bennett shared with trustees the feedback received on the calendar from families and staff.
The PRSD board of trustees approved the calendar.
Highlights include:
- Aug. 26 – first day for staff;
- Aug. 30 – first day for students;
- Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 – Christmas break;
- March 10-11 – Teacher’s convention;
- March 21–25 – Spring break;
- June 24 – Last day for Kindergarten – Grade 9 students;
- June 28 – Last day for Grades 10-12 students and K-12 staff.
Mental Health & Wellness Survey
Tash Taylor, consultant for Leadership Services, provided the board with a preliminary presentation of the survey data from PRSD’s Student Health and Wellness Survey.
The survey was open to students in Grades 7-12, and all parents and staff in early February with a total of 1,860 responses.
“The high level of response to the survey speaks to the importance of student mental health in our school communities,” says board chair Darren Kuester.
“This provides us concrete data and a better sense of student wellness, perspectives and where attention needs to be focused.”
The board is meeting virtually March 30 with Taylor and PRSD management staff to review the data and develop a plan for moving forward.
Summary data from the survey will be made available to the public in the coming weeks.
PRSD capital plan approved
The board of trustees reviewed and approved PRSD’s 2022-25 Capital Plan.
The plan outlines PRSD’s top priorities with respect to school building and modernization.
“PRSD’s Capital Plan for the most part stays the same as the 2021-24 plan with the only difference being that PRSD’s number one priority, a new K-12 school in Manning, has been approved by the government in the design phase” says Kuester.
Top five priorities are as follows:
- New K-12 school in Manning;
- New K-12 school for Red Earth Creek;
- Fairview High School modernization;
- Worsley Central School modernization;
- Peace River T.A. Norris Middle School modernization.
PRSD to meet with nearby boards
Trustees discussed plans and agenda items for upcoming meetings with the Holy Family Catholic Regional School Division and the Grande Prairie Catholic School Division board of trustees.
The board meets annually with neighboring school boards to discuss topics of common interest.
Common agenda items for both meetings with HFCRD and GPCSD include capital planning, student mental health and wrap-around services [supports for mental health, addiction, physical and learning disabilities] and PRSD’s outreach programs in Peace River and Fairview.
Administration is working on scheduling the meetings to take place in the coming weeks.