May 9, 2018 Board Meeting News

May 16th, 2018

R. F. Staples Secondary School, Westlock –

R. F. Staples — Work Hard, Be Kind
The May 9 board meeting was held at R. F. Staples Secondary School, the division’s largest school with 719 students in Grades 7-12 and 59 staff members — 39 teachers and 20 support staff. The school operates on an annual budget of $5.5 million.

Principal Wayne Rufiange provided a tour of the school and presented the school report.

Board amends policy to include Value Statement
Among the four policy amendments made by the board, was the addition of a Value Statement to Policy 1 – Foundation Statements:

  • We value success for every student. We can achieve success for every student when:
    • All participants in the education system are engaged in learning.
    • Students, staff, parents and community commit to building an inclusive culture that is welcoming, caring, respectful and safe, in every area of the system.
    • We accept all students for who they are and what they need.
    • We provide all students with a sense of belonging.
    • We teach the literacy and numeracy skills students need to be confident and competent in school and in life.

Board requests funding for maximum bus ride times
Until June 15, Alberta Education is asking families and school boards to provide input on student transportation eligibility criteria. In a letter to Alberta Education, the PHPS Board of Trustees is requesting that the province to provide a predictable and sustainable transportation funding model that includes funding for maximum ride times.

PHPS to save enough power to light 935 homes each year!
The school board approved the division’s $644,000 LED lighting project. To help fund the project, PHPS will receive $196,000 in rebates from Energy Efficiency Alberta, a government agency dedicated to helping the province save energy and lower its carbon footprint.

Here is how the remaining $448,000 will be funded:

  • $232,000 will come from unplanned revenue the division received from the former Alberta Local Authorities Reciprocal Insurance Exchange, an insurance Co-op the division was a previous member of
  • $216,000 will come from the Infrastructure Maintenance Renewal Program – funding the division receives each year for major work in our school buildings

The project will result in a potential annual savings of $150,000 or 374,000 kWh – that’s enough to light 935 homes! Phase 1 of the project will include installation and replacement of over 12,000 fluorescent light bulbs in all schools and offices this summer. Phase 2 of the project will include the replacement of all exterior lighting with LED lighting.

More details are in the report and recommendation which was presented by Facilities Director Tracy Tyreman.

The next school board meeting is on Wednesday, May 23, 2018 at at the PHPS Regional Office in Barrhead starting at 9:30 a.m. The public is welcome to attend.