PSD Regular Board Meeting Highlights - December 17, 2024

Wednesday, December 18, 2024 - The Board of Trustees is pleased to share with all education stakeholders the highlights of our recent Board meeting held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The adopted minutes will be available on our website following the next Regular Board meeting.

Update: 

• Trustees debated the topic of Criminal Record Checks for candidates wishing to become a school trustee. The Municipal Affairs Statutes Amendment Act, 2024 came into force on October 31, 2024. This statute allows for School Divisions to require a criminal record check for local candidates in an election. If a bylaw is passed by the Board requiring a criminal record check by December 31, 2024, a criminal record check would be required for the 2025 election. After deliberations, Trustees voted against the recommendation to pass a bylaw, therefore criminal record checks will not be required to run in the upcoming election. 
• Parkland School Division's Division Psychologist, Josée Huston, Forest Green School Principal, Leah Andrews and Counsellor, Brittany Thorarinson presented to the Board on the topic of Student Supports in school. They told the board about how integral counsellors are to educational development and explained their tiered approach, which focuses on Universal, Targeted and Individual supports and services.
• The board approved Revised Board Policy 8: Board Committees and Representation. The Board of Trustees is responsible for reviewing Board Policies on an ongoing basis to adhere to the requirements necessary to provide excellence in public education and comply with the Education Act and provincial, as well as federal, legislation. Key changes were updates to membership, including voting and non-voting membership; and updates committee decision-making process.
• The board approved Revised Board Policy 11: Board Delegation of Authority. The key changes were updates to authority delegated to superintendents, as per the Education Act; and updates to language for consistency with the Education Act.
• The board approved the third reading of Bylaw 2024-1: The Parkland School Division Candidate Criminal Record Check. The bylaw would require a person seeking to be nominated as a candidate to provide a criminal record check. 
• The board received for information the Transportation Services Department Report 2024-2025, which outlined the Transportation Services Department accomplishments and challenges, which included funding challenges and ongoing driver shortages. 
• The board received for information the Student Wellness Report, which offered a comprehensive look at the wellness initiatives across the division.
• The board received for information the Career Pathways Report, which summarized off-campus programs and provided current and historical enrolment totals for off-campus education within Parkland School Division.
• The board received for information the 2025-2026 School Calendar, which will be approved no later than March 1, 2025. Amendments to the calendar accommodated the strong interests represented in stakeholder feedback. The feedback was obtained between November 19, 2024 and December 6, 2024 and had 1,571 respondents weigh in. 
•  The board also received the Trustee Report 2024-2025 Benefit Plan Advisory Committee. Hub International reviewed the Annual Renewal for January 1, 2025 with the committee and explained how the rate was calculated. The basic life rates, accidental death & dismemberment, and health rates saw no change in rates. While long-term disability rates increased by 10.0%, and dental rates increased by 4.6%. Seeing a total premium increase
  of 2.9% for all benefits.

The next Regular Board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 21, 2025 at 9am.