News Release
April 11, 2012
Board to engage students through establishment of student advisory council
At yesterday’s public board meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the establishment of a student advisory council. The proposal for the council included meeting with the Board and Administration at least twice a year to provide the student perspective on educational issues.
“As a Board, we need to hear first hand from the students we serve and it is our hope that this council will engage in dialogue focused on what’s important to students,” said Dave Colburn, Chair of the Edmonton Public School Board. “My hope is that this council will help strengthen the voice of the students of Edmonton Public Schools at the governance level.”
The Board also received the first of a new series of annual reports designed to evaluate progress in important areas of supporting students. These reports provided current data and initiatives related to English Language Learners (ELL), Aboriginal Education and Health and Wellness. The Board requested these new reports in an effort to increase transparency and accountability in these areas. The reports highlighted several successful initiatives, including:
- Transition Centres at Balwin (early learning to Grade 9) and McCauley (early learning to Grade 12) available for immigrant and refugee families;
- Creation of an Edmonton Public Schools Comprehensive School Health Team;
- Working with external agencies to augment support in the areas of health and wellness, supports for immigrant and refugee students and supports for First Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) students; and,
- FNMI Circle Gatherings in high schools to provide an opportunity for students to connect with one another and school staff.
Further information about these reports is available at www.epsb.ca.
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Media Coverage – April 11, 2012
The Edmonton Sun (Edmonton), P, 11 Apr 2012, Page: 4
LUKASZUK'S LESSON PLAN
Some questioning pamphlets on government spending sent to schools before election call. An information pamphlet on the provincial budget left some central Alberta school boards uneasy.
Metro News, April 10, 2012
EPSB approves special needs spending
Edmonton Public Schools trustees approved proposed funding for the 2012-13 year Tuesday that boosts special needs or “inclusive education” dollars by nearly $17 million.
RADIO
AFTERNOON NEWS 1 (CHED-AM), Edmonton, 10 Apr 2012, Length: 00:01:45, Time: 04:31pm
IT SEEMS THE EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD AND THE ALBERTA PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD ASSOCIATION AREN'T ALWAYS ON THE SAME PAGE, AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGN ENDORSEMENTS FROM TRUSTEES. "JACKIE HANSON", PRESIDENT, ASBA; "JANE STIRLING", EDMONTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
iNews880.com, April 10, 2012
Mixed opinions on candidate endorsement from school boards in the province
It seems the Edmonton School Board Association and the Alberta Public School Board Association might not always be on the same page... at least when it comes to campaign endorsements from its members. Sarah Hoffman, Public School Trustee for Ward G, ...