Regular Board Meeting Summary - January 2023

Regular Board Meeting Summary - January 2023
Posted on 01/24/2023
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The High Prairie School Division met on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, for their regularly scheduled meeting. After approval of the agenda with no additions, they moved into discussions of the regular agenda items.

The first item discussed was ASBA Zone 1 meeting formats. ASBA Zone 1 is gathering information on whether to host future meetings in person, virtually, or a hybrid model accommodating both in-person and virtual. Trustees discussed the variables with all three options and collectively felt that hybrid models would be best.

Trustees reviewed the next agenda item regarding amending the cold weather transportation temperature limits. Currently, HPSD cancels buses when the ambient temperature is -40 or colder. Trustees voted in favour of moving the temperature at which school buses are cancelled to -35°C.

Trustees received and approved the Finance Report.

The next agenda item discussed was the Public School Boards' Association (PSBA) awards nomination packages. Trustees requested that local schools and other organizations be made aware of the award nomination packages to ensure that people and organizations supporting public education are nominated. 

Trustees also reviewed the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Awards call for nominations. The deadline for nominations is February 3, 2023, and the nominations package has been distributed to all schools.

The Board then moved into closed again to finish their discussion around wage increases and to hire a consultant. Moving back into open, the Board approved a 3% increase to all non-unionized, uncertified employees retroactively to September 2022. After a lengthy discussion around whether to offer an equal dollar amount increase per employee or a set percentage increase, Trustees voted in favour of the percentage. Trustees felt that a set percentage increase for all employee groups was the best option, given the wage review data did not show any one employee group more or less impacted by the current financial situation.

The Board also approved hiring a consultant to help rewrite all policies to ensure inclusivity and that the wording of the clauses within the policies does not marginalize any groups.

After the Board meeting, the Trustees met with the President and Executive Director of the PSBA.
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