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AERR: Board governance

Priority 3: Enhance Public Education Through Effective Engagement
Goal 2: Engaged and Effective Governance
Outcome 1: The Division is committed to engaging stakeholders to augment its decision-making and support student success
Outcome 2: The Division is committed to engagement and advocacy to enhance public education

Alberta Education's Assurance Domain: Governance
Provincial Outcome: Alberta's K-12 education system is well-governed and managed

Annual Education Results Report 2023-24  ǀ AERR Overview

Performance Measures

  • 4 advocacy areas specifically identified and addressed by the Board
  • 7 advocacy letters sent to the Minister of Education, ministers or Alberta's members of the Legislative Assembly
  • 7 formal meetings with the Minister of Education or provincial ministers
  • 2 formal meetings with Alberta's members of the legislative assembly
  • 5 formal meetings with mayors and reeves in the EIPS jurisdiction
  • 154 media advocacy articles, radio and television interviews
  • 92.5% of families, staff and Grade 12 students are confident in EIPS' advocacy efforts to enhance public education

Additional Information:
AERR: Governance (see pg. 79-82)
Board Advocacy
EIPS Assurance Framework and Cycle

Results

Throughout the 2023-24 school year, the EIPS Board of Trustees worked diligently to ensure the Division’s voice was heard on several topics, including the value of public education; mental health and well-being; adequate and predictable education funding; autonomous school boards; the new curriculum; critical infrastructure requirements and classroom complexity. As such, considerable work went into building awareness around these issues.

For instance, the Board has an Advocacy Committee, which developed an annual advocacy plan. The plan outlined the Board’s advocacy focus areas, related advocacy strategies, background information, key messages, and short-term and long-term objectives. Year-long, the Board also engaged the media, government, industry associations, Division families and the surrounding community on all mentioned advocacy topics. The goal, of course, is to ensure the Division continues offering high-quality, student-centred learning, where all students can achieve success.

Throughout the school year, there was also a concentrated media component to ensure all stakeholders were aware of the Division’s successes and challenges. In total, 58 news releases were distributed, resulting in several interviews with local and mainstream news organizations, including ATA News, City News, Calgary Herald, CBC News, Country 106.5, CTV News, Daily Herald Tribune, Edmonton Journal, Education News Canada, Globe and Mail, Global News, Heartland News, Mix 107.9, The Fort Saskatchewan Record, The Lamont Leader, The Sherwood Park–Strathcona County News, Town and Country Today and Vegreville News Advertiser. Through this combined effort, 378 news stories were published about EIPS—154 of those related to the Board’s advocacy topics.

To accompany the media interviews, 15 sets of key messages were developed—all relating to the Board’s advocacy efforts. Ongoing Board columns were also published in four local newspapers, along with a six-part Board Myth Busting series and two Board-focused newsletters: The EIPS Board Update and EIPS Advocacy in Action. The Board Myth Busting series aimed at combating misinformation and rumours while also highlighting important facts about EIPS’ work, priorities and goals. The EIPS Board Update newsletter was distributed to elected officials and Division partners featuring articles about the Division, what’s new and the work of the Board. Similarly, the EIPS Advocacy in Action was sent to school families and staff, highlighting the work of the Board, the Division’s priorities, advocacy focus areas and efforts, and the value of public education. Collectively, these showcase the innovative learning taking place within the Division, the vibrant partnerships the Division has established and why EIPS is an exceptional place to learn and work.

Significant effort was also put into public engagement, all using the Division’s Public-Engagement Strategy, which outlines the process and tools to use in all EIPS consultation efforts. In 2023-24, the Board reached out to Division families and key stakeholders on a range of topics, including assurance measures, Board and budget priorities, school capital projects, enrolment challenges and mental health and well-being issues. The Board’s most prominent engagements areas in 2023-24: the Assurance Framework and a replacement school in Fort Saskatchewan.

As part of the EIPS Assurance Framework, EIPS conducted its annual EIPS Budget Survey to gather feedback to help plan its funding priorities. Open to all school families, staff, Grade 12 students and community partners, the Board used the survey input to develop the 2024-25 spring budget. Later in the year, stakeholders were engaged again through the online EIPS Annual Feedback Survey. Every year, the Division conducts the survey to measure stakeholder confidence and gauge its progress toward meeting the goals and priorities outlined in its Four-Year Education Plan. Families, staff and students in grades 9 and 12 were asked a series of questions about their experiences with EIPS, the overall performance of the Division, the quality of education, areas for improvement and their confidence in EIPS’ strategic direction. The input gathered guides the Board, and Division, in planning, decision-making, and strategy development to better serve students and the wider community.

One of which, is the EIPS Four-Year Education Plan. Trustees analyzed the survey data to update Year 3 of the plan, which details the Division's priorities and goals, performance measures and strategies to use to meet the listed priorities and outcomes. Overall, the survey feedback helped the Board ensure its education plan remained responsive to stakeholder needs and focused on continuous improvement.

The Board also actively advocated and engaged the community and elected officials on its infrastructure needs—namely a replacement school in Fort Saskatchewan. Throughout 2023-24, the Board hosted two public consultation meetings in Fort Saskatchewan to talk about its schools and the challenges the Division faces—in terms of limited space, ageing infrastructure and the region’s growing population. Attendees gained insight into what the Division is doing to address these challenges and about EIPS’ capital plan priorities. They also heard details about the Division's plans for a collegiate model junior-senior high program—designed to provide students with high-demand employment training and skills in their community—and strategies moving forward. Those who came also had a chance to ask questions, share their concerns and learn how they can help. The Board hopes, through these efforts, the province will soon grant the funding needed for the new collegiate style junior-senior high replacement school. When granted it will ensure 21st-century learning spaces for students in Fort Saskatchewan, allow for new partnership opportunities to better prepare students and help build the community.

Coupled with the advocacy and engagement efforts, the Board also worked to ensure thorough and ongoing communication with constituents, families and other community members. Topics ranged from infrastructure needs to funding and reserve use to enhancing school programming and supports for learners. Monthly, trustees presented Board Reports at school council meetings, the Committee of School Councils meetings and regular Board meetings. They attended regular meetings with the Alberta School Board Association, liaising with other school boards and developed and shared consistent messaging, questions and common concerns to bring forward to the Education Minister and Alberta Education representatives. Finally, as previously mentioned, the Board engaged the school community through its newsletters, EIPS Board Update and EIPS Advocacy in Action—both newsletters feature articles about the Division, what’s new, the work of the Board and the value of public education. Collectively, these help ensure EIPS continues offering high-quality, student-centred educational experiences that reflect the priorities and goals listed within the Four-Year Education Plan.

 

Advocacy in action

In addition to the Assurance Framework and the Fort Saskatchewan replacement school, other advocacy and engagement areas included:

  • The Board finalized Year 3 of the Three-Year Engagement Plan, which identifies where the Division can improve operations to best serve students, and outlines projects and timelines. The goal: To ensure EIPS continues offering high-quality education to all students—now and well into the future.
  • The Board completed needed final details to begin construction on the new replacement school in Sherwood Park, which was listed on the EIPS Three-Year Capital Plan for more than a decade. To make funding a reality, numerous meetings took place between trustees and other elected officials. EIPS anticipates the replacement school opening in the 2026-27 school year.
  • The Board continued to advocate for cross-ministry support to address issues arising from socio-economic inequity, its impact on the classroom and more support for mental health resources.

Opportunities For Growth

While the Board has developed productive working relationships with stakeholders and elected officials in the communities EIPS serves, nurturing and further strengthening these is essential. As such, in the 2024-25 school year, the Board will continue to foster and build these working relationships. The Board will also fine-tune its advocacy plan, listing focus areas for the 2024-25 school year. Four long-standing advocacy items are education funding, the value of public education, autonomous school boards and infrastructure. The plan will also include strategies, processes and key messaging, which the Board will use to advocate for the Division. Again, the objective is, through these efforts, the Division will continue providing high-quality, student-centred education, meeting the priorities and outcomes listed in the Four-Year Education Plan, and offering the best educational opportunities for all students. Finally, with the trustee elections ahead in October 2025, the Board will work on succession planning for the newly elected Board of Trustees through the recently formed Governance and Evaluation Committee.

Priority Strategy For Education Plan

Identifying issues, engaging stakeholders and advocating for EIPS and a strong provincial public education system are continued priorities for the Division and the Board. Strategies for the 2025-26 school year include:

  • Continue to promote effective communication and build relationships with all elected officials.
  • Continue to meet with all levels of government to advocate, engage and participate in consulta- tions to ensure EIPS’ voice is heard.
  • Develop and maintain a focused advocacy plan to enhance public education.
  • Continue all assurance framework efforts. And, ensure the Division offers opportunities for school families to provide input.
  • Continue to work with the Board and media to ensure key messages and advocacy areas are clearly communicated to members of the public and key decision-makers.
  • Continue to engage and collaborate with the Committee of School Councils to move advocacy areas forward.
  • Continue to advocate for the Division’s Three- Year Capital Plan
  • Continue to send letters to elected officials to further the Board’s advocacy efforts.
  • Continue to work with colleagues through the Alberta School Boards Association to further advocacy efforts.
  • Develop and fine-tune a new four-year education plan for the school years 2026-30 and ensure EIPS meets the goals and outcomes outlined in the plan.
  • Plan and facilitate onboarding for a newly elected Board of Trustees.
  • Continue communicating with families about the Board of Trustees’ yearly advocacy plan and share information and activities related to work being undertaken throughout the year to meet those goals and objectives.
  • Build stakeholder awareness about the work of the Board through storytelling, regular Board reports, newspaper columns, the Board Myth Busters series, EIPS Board Update publication and the Board Advocacy in Action newsletter—featuring articles about the Division, what’s new, engagement opportunities and the Board’s advocacy areas and efforts—all focused on the importance and value of strong public education.