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Contributions to this engagement are now closed. Have questions? You are welcome to email engage@fsd38.ab.ca.
The Foothills School Division (FSD) Board of Trustees approved the 2021-2022 Budget and 2021-2024 3-year Education Plan by resolution at the board meeting on June 16, 2021.
This approved Budget and Education Plan reflect the ongoing priorities identified by our school community and staff team. The Board of Trustees remain committed to ensuring that decisions continue to align and reflect the feedback received from our communities, including the Vision 2034 Engagement and current School Renewal Engagement.
Use of $4.1 million of operating reserves to ensure maintenance of classroom supports as we transition out of the pandemic.
Maintenance of teacher staffing levels across the Division as compared to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
Maintenance of support staff staffing levels across the Division as compared to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year:
Including maintenance of all permanent education assistant and youth development coach positions for the 2020-2021 school year.
Increase of one full time Family School Liaison Counsellor.
A request to the Minister to allow FSD to transfer $500,000 from capital reserves to operational reserves to offset an increase of $1.5 million in property insurance costs - a 300% increase in the last two years.
Increased benefit costs (7.85%) across the Division with no equivalent funding increases from Alberta Education.
Decrease in student enrolment projections (1.9%) forecasting a reduction in funding in upcoming years.
Maintenance of enhanced cleaning for the first half of the school year:
We have committed to supporting day time custodians to continue with enhanced cleaning protocols for the first 4 months of the school year to support a safe school renewal and recovery.
We have also committed to continuing some additional cleaning of high touch surfaces during after school hours for 2021-2022 school year to support a safe school renewal and recovery.
Priorities and themes identified in our Vision 2034 stakeholder engagement included Learning Experiences, Learning for Transfer, Wellness and Wellbeing and Learning Competencies. These areas of focus informed the goals and strategies in our 2021-2024 Education Plan including:
Advance innovation and design
Advance learning for transfer
Advance First Nations, Métis and Inuit student success
Advance literacy and numeracy
Advance wellness and well-being
Advance our continuum of supports
Advance stakeholder engagement and communications
Advance evidence-based continuous improvement and assurance
Continuation and modification of CPIP (Classroom Practice Innovative Projects) grant funding up to a total of $50,000 for all approved projects to be drawn from Operational Reserves for one year.
Increased flexibility in learning experiences
Implementation of Full Time Kindergarten program at 4 schools across the Division - Dr. Morris Gibson School, Big Rock School, C. Ian McLaren School and Spitzee School.
Nature Based Learning alternative program launch at École Percy Pegler School from kindergarten to grade 6
Continuation of the Hub@Home online school for Grades 1-12, providing a flexible online learning opportunity for our students
Introduction of Innovation and Design Facilitator to advance our goal of innovation and design and support the Innovation and Design Framework and the Career Futures implementation across the Division.
School Renewal Committee strategies embedded in the Education Plan 2021-2024 provide overall direction for system planning for post pandemic education and continuity of learning:
Mental health supports for students and staff
Addressing potential gaps in learning
Socio-emotional learning competencies
Renewing school culture - sports, athletics, clubs, fine arts
Supporting and creating opportunities to renew connections and professional relationships
Equity in education
Celebrating resiliency and successes
Continuing to provide timely and transparent communications
Board Chair Larry Albrecht says, “This is once again a unique budget year requiring a commitment to maintaining student classroom and school support despite increased costs across the Division. Though the Provincial Government maintained funding this year compared to last, we have lost $2.8 million dollars in federal/provincial COVID support as well as an increase in costs that have not been funded. We are confident this budget and the Three-Year Education Plan provide Foothills School Division students and staff the resources and flexibility to continue to experience quality learning in our safe and caring learning environment.”
Chris Fuzessy, Superintendent of Schools says, “Within the Foothills School Division, we are continuing preparations for a safe and welcoming return to post pandemic education in all of our schools. Staff team and family voice in this process continues to be welcome and can be found on our engagement website."
We require your feedback as we work to align these priorities with our budget. It's important to note key funding changes from prior years:
Staffing Levels
Custodial Services
School Bus Transportation
Insurance Costs
We would also like your feedback on two innovation documents that will continue to guide our work in Vision 2034 and our 3 year Education Plan, 2021-2024.
The Foothills School Division (FSD) Board of Trustees approved the 2021-2022 Budget and 2021-2024 3-year Education Plan by resolution at the board meeting on June 16, 2021.
This approved Budget and Education Plan reflect the ongoing priorities identified by our school community and staff team. The Board of Trustees remain committed to ensuring that decisions continue to align and reflect the feedback received from our communities, including the Vision 2034 Engagement and current School Renewal Engagement.
Use of $4.1 million of operating reserves to ensure maintenance of classroom supports as we transition out of the pandemic.
Maintenance of teacher staffing levels across the Division as compared to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year.
Maintenance of support staff staffing levels across the Division as compared to the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year:
Including maintenance of all permanent education assistant and youth development coach positions for the 2020-2021 school year.
Increase of one full time Family School Liaison Counsellor.
A request to the Minister to allow FSD to transfer $500,000 from capital reserves to operational reserves to offset an increase of $1.5 million in property insurance costs - a 300% increase in the last two years.
Increased benefit costs (7.85%) across the Division with no equivalent funding increases from Alberta Education.
Decrease in student enrolment projections (1.9%) forecasting a reduction in funding in upcoming years.
Maintenance of enhanced cleaning for the first half of the school year:
We have committed to supporting day time custodians to continue with enhanced cleaning protocols for the first 4 months of the school year to support a safe school renewal and recovery.
We have also committed to continuing some additional cleaning of high touch surfaces during after school hours for 2021-2022 school year to support a safe school renewal and recovery.
Priorities and themes identified in our Vision 2034 stakeholder engagement included Learning Experiences, Learning for Transfer, Wellness and Wellbeing and Learning Competencies. These areas of focus informed the goals and strategies in our 2021-2024 Education Plan including:
Advance innovation and design
Advance learning for transfer
Advance First Nations, Métis and Inuit student success
Advance literacy and numeracy
Advance wellness and well-being
Advance our continuum of supports
Advance stakeholder engagement and communications
Advance evidence-based continuous improvement and assurance
Continuation and modification of CPIP (Classroom Practice Innovative Projects) grant funding up to a total of $50,000 for all approved projects to be drawn from Operational Reserves for one year.
Increased flexibility in learning experiences
Implementation of Full Time Kindergarten program at 4 schools across the Division - Dr. Morris Gibson School, Big Rock School, C. Ian McLaren School and Spitzee School.
Nature Based Learning alternative program launch at École Percy Pegler School from kindergarten to grade 6
Continuation of the Hub@Home online school for Grades 1-12, providing a flexible online learning opportunity for our students
Introduction of Innovation and Design Facilitator to advance our goal of innovation and design and support the Innovation and Design Framework and the Career Futures implementation across the Division.
School Renewal Committee strategies embedded in the Education Plan 2021-2024 provide overall direction for system planning for post pandemic education and continuity of learning:
Mental health supports for students and staff
Addressing potential gaps in learning
Socio-emotional learning competencies
Renewing school culture - sports, athletics, clubs, fine arts
Supporting and creating opportunities to renew connections and professional relationships
Equity in education
Celebrating resiliency and successes
Continuing to provide timely and transparent communications
Board Chair Larry Albrecht says, “This is once again a unique budget year requiring a commitment to maintaining student classroom and school support despite increased costs across the Division. Though the Provincial Government maintained funding this year compared to last, we have lost $2.8 million dollars in federal/provincial COVID support as well as an increase in costs that have not been funded. We are confident this budget and the Three-Year Education Plan provide Foothills School Division students and staff the resources and flexibility to continue to experience quality learning in our safe and caring learning environment.”
Chris Fuzessy, Superintendent of Schools says, “Within the Foothills School Division, we are continuing preparations for a safe and welcoming return to post pandemic education in all of our schools. Staff team and family voice in this process continues to be welcome and can be found on our engagement website."
We require your feedback as we work to align these priorities with our budget. It's important to note key funding changes from prior years:
Staffing Levels
Custodial Services
School Bus Transportation
Insurance Costs
We would also like your feedback on two innovation documents that will continue to guide our work in Vision 2034 and our 3 year Education Plan, 2021-2024.
