The Garden Valley School Division has approved a new strategic plan.
In developing the plan, Board Chair Leah Klassen says trustees along with senior administration worked diligently in meeting with various stakeholders to chart the course for the next four years. Those groups included the division's parent advisory councils, business and municipal leaders, principals, the Garden Valley Teacher's Association, as well as students to find out what was important to them.
Through that process, Klassen says literacy, numeracy, and mental health and well-being rose to the top. "We have had that on our strategic plan, and we continue to have that for the 2023 to 2027 years," said Klassen.
Klassen says the board and senior admin then met with their literacy and numeracy coordinators to delve into what this should look like for early and middle years numeracy and literacy. Following that process, Klassen said they created goals in consultation with the coordinators.
Early Years Literacy:
By June of 2027, 85% of K-4 students will achieve reading levels at or above grade level, using strategies to demonstrate accuracy and comprehension.
Early Years Numeracy:
By June of 2027, 85% of K-4 students will demonstrate competency in applying math strategies aligning with grade-level outcomes.
Middle Years Numeracy:
By June 2027, 85% of Grade 5-8 students will demonstrate competency in the understanding of fractions aligning with grade-level outcomes.
Mental Health and Well-Being:
By June of 2027, the mental health and well-being of students and staff will be enhanced.
In 2023-24, the division will collect and analyze school-based mental health and well-being data and develop divisional goals.
*This goal will be further developed after baseline data is analyzed in 2023-24.
Senior Years and Academic Achievement Goal:
By June of 2027, Grade 9-12 levels of school engagement and academic achievement will be improved.
In 2023-24, the division will collect and analyze school-based Grade 9 retention rates, 9-12 attendance rates, 9-12 dropout rates, and Grade 9 ELA and Math disaggregated achievement data and develop divisional goals.
*This goal will be further developed after baseline data is analyzed in 2023-2024.
During the past budget season, Klassen noted GVSD passed a deficit budget, a move the Board made intentionally.
"We created a $400,000 allocation for Recovery Learning because that is the other thing that we heard, is that coming out of the pandemic, there is a significant gap that's happening with our students. The board wanted to be proactive in creating some funding for that."
Klassen says the funding will be used to help support literacy and numeracy in GVSD schools with the addition of more teachers.
The additional staffing has gone to the following schools:
Winkler Elementary School 1.0 (additional classroom support)
Southwood School 0.5 (literacy and numeracy support)
Emerado Centennial School 0.5 (Literacy and classroom support)
Prairie Dale School 0.5 (Recovery learning support)
Pine Ridge School 0.75 (additional classroom support)
Additional 0.05 of social work support
About $100,000 is still to be designated and is being reserved for needs that will arise.