Pearl Lorentzen
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Board action items
Three of the six board action items were completed. The other three were in progress. Two completed items had to do with Northland advocating Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) to pay for education assistants through Jordan’s Principle funding. On April 7, the division sent a letter to ISC requesting this. In May 15, the division sent a letter to Northland parents outlining Northland’s position and giving suggestions on how to advocate to their members of parliament (MPs).
At the meeting, Cal Johnson, Northland superintendent, said that the division hadn’t heard anything back from ISC.
The other completed item was promoting Northland Online School.
The division has an advertising plan in place to advertise Northland Online School and summer classes, which includes online, traditional media, and adding information to school newsletters.
An ongoing action item was adding First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) resources to the Northland website just like Rupertsland Institute. Related to this Northland received a grant to do a one-year pilot to develop local Indigenous language resources.
The other two ongoing board action items had to do with infrastructure at two schools. Work was progressing at Grouard School and J.F. Dion School (Fishing Lake Métis Settlement).
Calling Lake concern
Calling Lake Trustee Wally Rude brought up two concerns that a community member, who is a retired Calling Lake School education assistant (EA), had brought up. The first was that teachers and EAs be better trained to help students regulate their emotions. The second was that sometimes during virtual professional development (PD), staff ignore what is happening.
The division is aware of both issues, said Krista Veitch, associate superintendent of HR. It is working on having more in-person PD and with school leadership to provide more oversight, to make sure people engage with virtual sessions. The division is also working to makes sure that each school has at least one EA trained in techniques for helping students regulate their emotions.
It can also be hard for new teachers to direct an EA, said Veitch, so the division is training new teachers on how to do this.
Teachers and EAs should do the training together, said Lorraine McGillivray, trustee for Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement and Keg River.
Northland is finding that virtual supports aren’t working, said Veitch, so the division is working to provide more in-person support services, which includes training and coaching staff with the skills they need in the classroom.
2024-25 financial report
The division was eight months into the financial year, said Douglas Aird, Northland secretary-treasurer. It was on track.
The removal of the carbon tax should have a positive effect going forward, he added. In the last while, it had been half of the fuel and heating costs.
For next year, Northland received over $400,000 to go toward collegiate courses at its schools.
Attendance
Mark Owens, Northland associate superintendent, presented the attendance, engagement, and high school completion report.
Attendance is up, he said. In April, it was 11 per cent higher in 2024-25 compared to 2023-24. This was 76 per cent in 2024-25 compared to 65 per cent in 2023-24.
The division has also figured out a way to track attendance at the online school.
“Almost all of our schools are within their target attendance for this year,” said Owens. The division is working with the few schools which are below this.
PowerSchool
PowerSchool has been in the news a bit, said Johnson. A 19-year-old Massachusetts college student pled guilty to breaching this database.
Northland is working on using more PowerSchool services.
“It’s a really good time to be making a transition,” said Owens.
One service that the division is working on will improve the way it lets parents know about their child’s attendance and builds connections with parents. These changes are still in the works, and the division will let parents know when the system is ready.
Enrolment
“We’re trending upward,” said Johnson. “Looking forward to the September head count.”
In April, Northland had 1,654 students. On October 9, it had 1,592.
Policies
The board passed changes to several policies: Policy 3 – Role of a Trustee, Policy 10 – Policy Making, Policy 20 – Teacher Housing, Policy 21 – Community Voice and Community Engagement, and Policy 2 – Role of the Board.
The trustees had a discussion about teacher housing. The new policy said that the rent should be affordable and equitable, but didn’t include rates.
Jesse Lamouche, trustee for East Prairie Métis Settlement and Grouard, asked if the policy should include a maximum or a minimum rent.
The rent may be different for different areas, said Tanya Fayant, board chair and trustee for Elizabeth and Fishing Lake Métis Settlements.
Housing can be used to attract teachers, said Veitch. Not having set rental rates allows administration to negotiate.
Bonnie Lamouche, trustee for Gift Lake and Peavine Métis Settlements, mentioned that teachers working at her schools have to travel and fuel is very expensive in the area.
Northland doesn’t receive any funding from Alberta Education for teacher housing, said Veitch. Therefore, it needs some rent from teachers.
Trustees asked if the local communities are interested in being involved in supporting education through teacher housing.
Northland has had some conversations with communities, said Johnson, but nothing concrete yet.
More community involvement would be a great idea, said Veitch.
Communities are interested in supporting education, said Jesse Lamouche.
The trustees decided to leave the policy without a set rate.
In Policy 21, Northland has added a clause directing school and parent councils give Northland administration the minutes from their meetings.
Administration needs to know what was discussed at the community level, said Johnson.
Budget
The board approved the 2025-26 budget with a deficit of $255,353. This has expected revenue of $58,913,851 and expected expenses of $59,169,204. See article on Page 7 and 8.
Alberta School Board Association
The board was in favour of the ASBA budget and new member fees. Final decisions will be made at an ASBA meeting.
“It makes sense to keep up with inflation,” said Robin Guild, vice-chair Wabasca and Chipewyan Lake trustee.
“I think we get bang for our buck with ASBA,” said Fayant.
The ASBA plans to use some reserves, said Rude.
Public School Boards Association of Alberta
The board was in favour of the new PSBAA membership fees. Final decisions will be made at a PSBAA meeting.
“They’ve done a really good job this year,” said Fayant.
Small changes to ed plan
Scott Meunier, deputy superintendent, presented on some tweaks to Northland’s 2025-2028 Education Plan. The board voted in favour of the changes.
Fleet vehicles
The board passed two motions to buy vehicles for the division’s fleet a Ford Explorer and an F150. The SUV cost $55,932.79 and the half-ton cost $64,073.09, both from Windsor Ford.
Organizational chart
The board approved a few changes to the organizational chart. Amy Savill, director of high school completion and engagement, will support Anzac, Bill Woodward, Conklin Community, and Father R. Perin schools. Veitch will support Elizabeth and J.F. Dion schools over by Cold Lake. Meunier will support Calling Lake, Career Pathways, Chipewyan Lake, Mistassiniy, Northland Online School, and St. Theresa. Owens will support Bishop Rothier, Gift Lake, Grouard Northland, Hillview, Paddle Prairie, and Susa Creek schools.
Housing renovations to tender
Council made various motions for administration to put out tenders for bids on renovations for some of the teacher housing in Wabasca. These are Unit 57, 58, 134, and 135.
Honouring Spirit nominees
Northland nominated four students for the Alberta School Board Association Honouring Spirit: Indigenous Student Award, said Johnson. None were successful, but he thought it was worth mentioning them at the board meeting.
They are: Brooklyn Wiltzen (Grade 5, Anzac Community School), Avery Gladue-Auger (Grade 12, Mistassiniy School), Miles Desjarlais (Grade 8, Northland Online School), and Zoey Powderhorn-Desjarlais (Grade 11, Northland Online School).