School Divisions in the Lakeland Seek Input from Stakeholders and Families for Next Three-Year Plans
School divisions in the Lakeland region are turning to stakeholders and families for input on their plans for the next three years. Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) and Lakeland Catholic School Divisions are holding community engagement sessions to gather feedback on priorities for their education plans.
Alberta Education mandates that school divisions submit annual three-year plans that include measurable achievement and performance outcomes. NLPS Communications Manager Nicole Garners highlighted the importance of seeking input from stakeholders to set new priorities for the division. In the past, priorities such as improving student mental health and numeracy skills were identified through consultation with the community.
The upcoming stakeholder meetings, starting in early February and running through early March, will play a crucial role in determining the future priorities of NLPS. Input collected during these sessions will guide strategies to address key areas, impacting student learning, programming, and staff development.
Parents, students, staff, and residents in the NLPS area are encouraged to attend the engagement sessions to provide their valuable input. Once all feedback is collected, school officials will review it to identify priority areas for focus in the coming years.
Similarly, Lakeland Catholic School Division is also engaging with the community to gather feedback for their education plan. Meagan MacEachern, the communications officer, emphasized the importance of considering student feedback in shaping the division’s plan.
Superintendent Sheldon Germain highlighted the various sources of information that inform the division’s decision-making process, including community input, surveys, reports, and feedback from school councils and staff. The division reviews and adjusts its three-year education plan annually to ensure alignment with its mission and values.
These engagement initiatives not only shape the educational priorities of the school divisions but also serve as a financial tool for local and provincial officials to determine spending levels in the school system. The collaborative effort between stakeholders, families, and school officials will play a crucial role in shaping the future of education in the Lakeland region.