Prairie Rose School Board elects leadership, adjusts school calendar 

Courier/Commentator Photo Submitted. ELECTED: Lois Bedwell (Ward 1) takes the oath of office from Returning Officer Ryan Boser.

By Nerissa McNaughton
Southern Alberta Newspapers

Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) has set its leadership for the upcoming school year and made important adjustments to the academic calendar. The decisions came during the Board of Trustees’ annual Organizational Meeting held on Tuesday, October 28.

During the meeting, trustees were sworn in, and the board elected its leadership for the 2025-2026 term. Patty Rooks will serve as the Board Chair, with Pam Cursons elected as Vice-Chair.

Following the swearing-in ceremony, the board assigned several key representative roles for the year. These trustees will attend events and represent PRPS in various provincial education associations in addition to their regular duties.

The appointments are as follows:

• Patty Rooks: Board Chair and Representative on the Rural Caucus of Alberta.

• Pam Cursons: Vice-Chair, Representative for the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), and Representative for the Teachers Employer Bargaining Association (TEBA).

• Nancy Haraga: Alternate for the ASBA.

• Janel Vossler: Representative for the Public School Boards Association (PSBA).

• Graeme Dennis: Alternate for the PSBA.

After the Organizational Meeting, the trustees held a Special Board Meeting to address pressing division matters. A key topic was the 2025-2026 school year calendar.

The Board approved changes to recover instructional time for students. Two professional development days, originally scheduled for November 7 and November 10, will now be regular instructional days. Trustees noted the importance of reclaiming lost classroom time, especially for high school students on a semester system.

The Board also acknowledged the uncertainty regarding potential adjustments to student assessments from Alberta Education following the recent strike. The calendar changes were approved with the understanding that more adjustments could be necessary as the division receives further guidance from the province.

The board remains committed to prioritizing student learning and will adapt as new information becomes available.