Board Meeting Highlights - October 14, 2025
Additional information can be found in the October 14, 2025, Board Meeting Agenda package: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13tAhNvkeBwe6pkPs_l1UJfHcInc01IbK/view?usp=drive_link
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Executive Report
With labour action continuing across the province, all Prairie Rose support staff remain on duty. Educational assistants and school-based staff are completing training, professional learning, and school improvement projects. Bus drivers are also engaged in driver safety refreshers, first aid updates, and bus maintenance checks.
Enrollment Update
Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser reported that Prairie Rose continues to see steady enrollment growth, marking the sixth straight year of increases. As of September 29, the division serves 5,158 students from kindergarten to grade 12, an increase of 128 full time equivalent students from last year. This represents a 2.5 percent overall rise and more than 12 percent growth since 2018.
About 93 percent of Prairie Rose students live within the division’s boundaries. The number of students choosing Prairie Rose schools from outside the division now nearly equals those who leave for other systems, showing the strong appeal of Prairie Rose’s specialized programs. Over the past decade, the number of local students attending other divisions has dropped by more than 60 percent.
Even with this growth, class sizes remain small and consistent with Alberta Commission on Learning guidelines. Division averages consist of the following:
○ Primary (grades 1-3) 14.6
○ Elementary (grades 4-6) 15.2
○ Junior (grades 7-9) 17.8
○ Senior (grades 10-12) 18.4
These numbers reflect Prairie Rose’s ongoing commitment to maintaining personal, student focused learning environments.
Prairie Rose Division Complexity
Director of Student Experiences Lisa Lindsay shared a report outlining the support Prairie Rose has put in place for students with complex needs. Funding in this area has grown substantially, rising to 3.34 million dollars this year, an increase of more than 1.3 million compared to 2023 to 2024.
This investment supports a team of over 130 educational assistants, along with learning support teachers, wellness counsellors, psychologists, and therapy staff who work directly with students in classrooms. New partnerships have also doubled occupational therapy access, helping to meet the needs of students with low vision, hearing challenges, and other specialized supports.
Prairie Rose continues to explore creative approaches that build confidence and emotional regulation, including hippotherapy, the Prairie Rose Honey program, canine support teams, and the Back on Track restorative program. Two major initiatives are also underway, with the CASA Classroom opening in February 2025 and a Behaviour Support Program planned for 2026.
Yuill School of Agriculture Groundbreaking
Prairie Rose Public Schools will be holding a groundbreaking event (October 14 @ 2 PM) to announce the creation of the Yuill School of Agriculture, a new learning opportunity made possible through the generosity of the Yuill Family Foundation, the Government of Alberta, and in partnership with Neubauer Farms. Set to open in 2027, the Yuill School of Agriculture will provide students with hands-on, real world learning experiences that connect classroom education to careers in agriculture, business, and technology. Read the full story: https://www.myprps.com/news/yuill-school-of-agriculture-to-strengthen-education-innovation-and-alberta-s-agri-food-future-20251014144559
Out of Country Field Trip Approvals
The Board approved several international travel experiences for students this year:
- South Alberta Flight Academy – Texas Flight Training
Students will head to Texas in February 2026 for advanced flight training. The trip will include simulator work, aircraft maintenance demonstrations, and flying time at a professional aviation facility. Participants will also visit the historic NASA Johnson Space Center and local aviation museums.
- Eagle Butte High School – Greece and Italy Adventure
Set for April 2–11, 2026, this 10-day trip will take students through Athens, Santorini, and Mykonos, before crossing into Rome. The group will tour the Acropolis, ancient marketplaces, and historic cathedrals, as well as enjoy cultural experiences such as traditional Greek dining and a cruise through the Aegean Sea.
- Foremost School – Discovering Italy
Students will explore Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Rome from May 19–28, 2026. The trip includes gondola rides through Venice’s canals, visits to the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the Colosseum, and time in Tuscany’s countryside. It’s designed to immerse students in art, culture, and history while strengthening friendships and independence.
Commendations
The Board thanked outgoing trustees Cathy Hogg and Shauna Vanderspruit for their combined 16 years of dedicated service to Prairie Rose. Both have been strong advocates for students, always considering how each decision would benefit children and families across the division. Cathy Hogg served as trustee for Ward 2, representing Schuler, Irvine, and Cypress County from 2013 to 2025, while Shauna Vanderspruit represented Ward 3, serving the communities of Redcliff and Dunmore since 2021.