In a recent meeting, the Peace River School Division’s Board of Trustees addressed several key topics.
Secretary-Treasurer Rhonda Freeman outlined plans for the upcoming October election, emphasizing the division’s ongoing collaboration with local municipalities to share election spaces reduce costs.
The Board agreed hold advanced polls in partnership with these municipalities, with specific locations and dates to be confirmed after nomination day.
Freeman noted that this election is anticipated to be the largest since 2017.
The Board also reviewed amendments to the Grimshaw Shared Facilities Joint Use Agreement and introduced a new Joint Use Planning Agreement for Peace River.
Trustee Lori Leitch highlighted the addition of an operational subcommittee to the Grimshaw agreement to address concerns more efficiently.
She commended the Town of Grimshaw for collaborating with the PRSD and the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division to enhance traffic flow and safety at the facility.
The Peace River agreement, required by the Municipal Government Act, outlines collaboration on joint use items like sports fields and facility rentals.
The Board approved this agreement through a formal motion.
In student achievements, the Board recognized Grimshaw Public School student Ciaran Kamphuis for achieving perfect scores on both parts of her Grade 9 Provincial Achievement Test during the 2024-2025 school year.
Ciaran, a lifelong Grimshaw resident, enjoys math and science, as well as outdoor activities like paddleboarding, biking, and camping.
Additionally, the Board directed administration to draft a letter supporting the Town and MD of Fairview’s Alberta Community Partnership grant application to establish a Community Facilities and Recreation Strategy.
Regarding Fairview schools, the Board reviewed an engagement report following sessions with staff and community members.
Stakeholders considered three options for the future of Fairview school facilities, with a slight preference for a new K-12 school, contingent on factors like maintaining quality instructional spaces, integrating partnerships, and accommodating future enrollment growth.
After discussion, the Board updated the 2025-2028 Capital Plan to prioritize designing and constructing a new K-12 school in Fairview.
The next step involves a Value Scoping Session to determine the school’s specifics.
Superintendent Dr. Jeff Thompson presented a preliminary enrollment report indicating an overall decrease due to fewer students in the home learning program.
However, increases were noted at several schools, including Grimshaw Public School and Peace River High School.
A more detailed report will follow the end-of-September count, which informs funding formulas for the 2025-2026 school year.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
