Clearview Public Schools trustees discussed the first steps towards the reconfiguration of Stettler’s public schools during their Feb. 12 meeting.
Superintendent Peter Barron came to the board with two recommendations at its committee of the whole meeting.
Back in January, the board approved a motion for the redistribution of the grades in the Stettler school complex, which would see the grades in Stettler Middle School divided between the two other schools.
Effective this fall, Stettler Elementary School would expand to include Kindergarten through Grade 6, while William E. Hay Composite High School would grow to cover grades 7 through 12.
Barron’s first recommendation involved “the mechanism” by which the grades would be reconfigured — namely, that the three schools would continue to exist “for the purposes of Alberta Education identification and funding.”
However, the middle school and high school would, “for operational and budget purposes . . . be run as an amalgamated learning centre under a school principal.”
Barron said that conversations with Alberta Education had indicated that the division could pursue this as a way of making the changes without formally closing the middle school.
The second recommendation involved starting the process for naming the new amalgamated middle and high school.
While the name of the school may not necessarily change, Barron said that the discussions would be a starting point in forming “the new identity” of the reconfigured school.
The motion called for the formation of a committee of representatives to consider a name for the combined middle and high schools. Trustees Dave Goodwin and Staci Gerlitz will represent the board on the committee.
The board approved both motions, but not without some debate. Goodwin questioned the effectiveness of the reconfiguration method, asking whether it was not a “stopgap measure.”
“Three school codes might create some administrative difficulty somewhere along the line,” he said.
Barron responded that multiple codes should not be problematic, adding, “I think we can move forward in this way.”
Associate superintendent Peter Neale noted that the division has already started work on developing a consolidated school budget model for use under the new configuration.
Trustee Yvette Cassidy expressed her preference for reconfiguring the grades, rather than applying to the province to formally close the middle school.
“Technically, we’re not closing anything . . . we’re just making it different,” said Cassidy. “I don’t think it’s going to do this community any good to go through a closure motion.”
Barron said that school leaders have expressed a desire to move forward and establish the guidelines for the new configuration as quickly as possible.
“We’d rather put our energies towards building the new,” he said.
Trustee Ken Checkel urged his colleagues to move forward with the motions, observing, “The fact is, it’s just a clerical thing.”
Other business
In his superintendent’s report, Barron noted that the scheduled meeting of area school boards with education minister Gordon Dirks on Feb. 5 was cancelled due to inclement weather and rescheduled for March 9.
The board discussed some proposed new foundational statements for Clearview, including a mission, vision and motto. Barron said these draft statements were the product of a Feb. 10 meeting.
However, the proposals met with a lukewarm reception from trustees, with Dave Goodwin arguing that the statements brought before the board did not properly reflect the preferences indicated at that previous meeting.
Other trustees argued that some of the existing statements did not need to be replaced, or questioned the merit of the new ones. The board agreed to hold off on making a decision on the statements, pending further discussion.
Trustees discussed their recent visits to Donalda and Erskine, held on Jan. 27. The next school visits will be to Big Valley and Byemoor, sometime in either February or March.
“It was really great to see their three-year plan and how they’ve incorporated our priorities,” observed board chair Cheri Neitz.
Board members discussed recent developments in the switch from Provincial Assessment Tests (PATs) to Student Learning Assessments (SLAs) for Grade 6 students, which has been postponed for another year to allow further development of the SLAs.
Trustees noted the challenges this delay presented, as the curriculum and schedules for Grade 6 students had changed in anticipation of the SLAs’ introduction.
“Protest is all we can do,” noted Goodwin.
The board directed Neitz to write a letter expressing its concerns to the minister of education.
Trustees also discussed upcoming conferences for both the Alberta School Boards Association, from June 1 to 2, and the Public School Boards Association of Alberta, coming up from May 29 to 31.
A suggested motion, granting trustees permission to attend one or the other, met with some disagreement, as Goodwin said he wished to attend both events.
The motion was amended to allow trustees to attend both events if so desired. It passed with the approval of all trustees, with the exception of Cassidy and John Schofer.
Further discussion on both the Stettler schools reconfiguration and the proposed shared busing program with local Catholic students was held behind closed doors, as was a delegation presenting a transportation-related request.