March 15, 2023
It Must Be an Election Year!
As we all eagerly awaited the 2023 Alberta Budget release earlier this month, I pondered where will Public School Education land as a priority and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Now, the budget did not address all Public School Education needs, but what it did address was that we have the Ministry of Education’s attention, they are listening to us and are willing to work alongside us.…
February 15, 2023
We’re All About Our Members!
With pandemic restrictions behind us, myself and our Executive Director and CEO have been back out on the road starting to meet with our valued school board members in person once again. While virtual meetings have been beneficial over the last two years, there is nothing better than getting to chat with our members in person and on location to discuss issues that are important in their jurisdiction. Andrew Grove…
January 13, 2023
Gearing up for a great 2023!
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful holiday break and are rested and refreshed for an exciting year ahead. Already, 2023 is shaping up to be an exciting year. In addition to the provincial election that is planned for the end of May, your Association has several key priority areas for advocacy throughout the year, including mental health, funding, transportation, and coordinating community and other resources. A high priority…
December 15, 2022
Holiday wishes, with gratitude for relationships and optimism for the future!
As we wind down the last few weeks of the 2022 calendar year and approach 2023, I find myself reflecting back over the past 12 months on all that our Association has accomplished. We have had numerous successes: a full slate of in-person events, including a successful Spring General Assembly and Fall Conference/AGM; incredible engagement with members and stakeholders on the development of a new strategic plan; welcoming two new…
November 15, 2022
Our unchanging priority: Students First
The English phrase, “may you live in interesting times”, is often attributed to an ancient Chinese curse. True or not, I believe these are important times. While there is still economic uncertainty, we are optimistic as we approach the end of 2022. That’s because our main focus and unchanging priority remains the same: Students First. Students First means creating the best possible conditions for every student in our public schools…
October 18, 2022
Relationships and collaboration a key theme at Fall Conference!
It was an exciting couple of days at our annual Fall Conference and AGM. Last year, we hosted a hybrid event. This year, we were fully back in person, and it was better than ever. Fall Conference is a wonderful time to reconnect with other trustees and build new relationships. We acknowledge there is a lot of change this year in K-12 education, and with it comes uncertainty. What will…
September 16, 2022
Gearing up for a great Fall!
Welcome back to the start of a new school year! And we are so pleased to extend a very warm PSBAA welcome to Lethbridge School Division, whose trustees joined the Association earlier this summer. We sent out a news release at the time, and you can read it by clicking here. I hope you had a wonderful and restful summer and were able to recharge and relax with family and…
June 15, 2022
Wellness and Learning are top of mind for PSBAA in June
In early June, we held our first in-person Spring General Assembly (SGA) in three years! It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces again, and meet new trustees who were elected last fall for the first time. The theme for this year’s SGA was wellness – most appropriate after the past two years. We had a wonderful roster of speakers and presenters and a full two and a half…
May 16, 2022
The importance of accountability and transparency highlighted in new PSBAA research
In April, the Public School Boards’ Association (PSBAA) released new research that again raises the importance of accountability and transparency in K-12 education, and how schools in Alberta are spending taxpayer dollars. Over the past two years, Curtis Riep, PhD. has produced a series of research papers for the PSBAA, including research on charter schools and home schools. His latest work on private schools reveals that the 18 most expensive…
April 19, 2022
Professional learning and communication are key to success for PSBAA members!
The Public School Boards’ Association of Alberta is proud to be a member-driven association, focused on meeting the needs of our members. One of the most important ways we do this is through our quarterly meetings with our Public School Boards’ Council (PSBC). Each member school board appoints a trustee representative who sits on the PSBC. These meetings are a great opportunity to hear from our members about the issues…