Board Highlights June 17, 2025
Additional Government Funding
WRSD recently received notification that Alberta Education and Childcare announced a 2.32 percent increase in learning support grant rates for the 2025-2026 school year. This additional funding will help to decrease the deficit anticipated next year.
French Immersion Program
The Canadian Parents for French joined the meeting to request that the school division revisit their decision to suspend the Grade 8 French Immersion program due to extremely low enrollment. The French Immersion program in Rocky Mountain House has been experiencing decreasing enrollment over the past several years. A good discussion ensued regarding the benefits of the program and how important it is to those involved. WRSD administration committed to reviewing the possibilities, but due to current budgetary constraints are unable to commit any further funding to the program.
First Student Corridor Bussing
Kristopher Norton from First Student is the new manager in Rimbey and he joined the meeting to provide an update on the bussing issues in the corridor. Due to several mechanical issues that have affected routes this year they have ordered four new buses for next year, and are looking to add another mechanic to their team. First Student has also contracted with a third party vendor in Drayton Valley to expedite the maintenance of the buses in the north when there are minor repairs. First Student is committed to improving the relationships between the parents, schools and drivers and keeping the buses on the road.
International Field Trips
The Board approved two new trips in principle - Frank Maddock High School is planning a trip to Italy and Greece in Spring Break 2026 and Rocky Christian School is planning to go to Belize in May 2026. The National Student Leadership Summit trip was given final approval and students from Frank Maddock will go to Indianapolis this July.
West Central High School Audio Visual System Update, Alberta Education & Infrastructure School Tour, New Curriculum, Vretta, Indigenous Education, Capital Projects, Superintendent Farewell Message
