Advocacy

Why an advocacy section on the FSD website?
We are often asked how you can engage in Foothills School Division goals and objectives. We appreciate this offer of help and are happy to invite you, our community, to support these advocacy efforts.
What are our priorities?
Our current focus areas for advocacy all share a common goal: Ensuring the majority of our budget dollars are directed to school and classroom-based staff. This will assure that we operate at maximum efficiency while also promoting high-quality learning in all schools across the division.
Our immediate advocacy priorities are:
- Secure construction funding for a new high school in Okotoks.
To reduce the student population at École Secondaire Foothills Composite High School/Alberta High School of Fine Arts which currently sits at over 130% capacity. - Provide equity of opportunity and school-based services for rural communities.
To create flourishing communities where schools are self-sustaining and celebrate the unique opportunities rural education provides. - Change the way school capacity is calculated to allow for learning spaces to be recognized and funded accordingly.
To recognize the many justified uses of school space that are not part of the current formula to calculate student population capacity, and to identify the restricting factors that negatively impact this calculation. - Implement Alberta Education-funded full-time kindergarten across the province.
To leverage the international research base that speaks to the many benefits of early intervention and education on later life outcomes. This would be an investment in safeguarding our collective future. - Increase transportation funding.
To redirect these operational dollars back into our classrooms to reduce and/or eliminate transportation fees for eligible students.
How can you help?
Your voice as a stakeholder in public education is key to advocating for positive change. Sharing your voice with elected officials and decision-makers is a great way to support our advocacy efforts. You can do this easily:
- Download a draft letter from the area of advocacy you feel strongly about.
- Add your thoughts to the letter at your discretion.
- Sign the letter.
- Email your letter to your elected officials who are listed below.
What are the facts about our Immediate and Ongoing advocacy priorities and areas?
Our Immediate Advocacy Priorities | ||
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Secure construction funding for a new high school in Okotoks | Change the way school capacity is calculated to allow for school usage to be recognized and funded accordingly | |
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Implement Alberta Education-funded full-time kindergarten across the province | Provide equity of opportunity and school-based services for rural communities | |
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Increase transportation funding | ||
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Our Advocacy Achievements | ||
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Secured planning funding for a new high school in Okotoks | Increased funding for student mental health supports | |
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Reduced property insurance costs to redirect these operational dollars back into our classrooms. | ||
Where can I send my letter?
Premier of Alberta, Danielle Smith premier@gov.ab.ca 780.427.2251 | Minister of Education, Demetrios Nicolaides education.minister@gov.ab.ca 780.427.5010 | Minister of Finance, Nate Horner tbf.minister@gov.ab.ca@assembly.ab.ca 780.427.2391 |
Highwood MLA, RJ Sigurdson Highwood@assembly.ab.ca 403.995.5488 | Livingstone-Macleod MLA, Chelsae Petrovic Livingstone.Macleod@assembly.ab.ca 825.212.2000 | Banff-Kananaskis MLA, Sarah Elmeligi Banff.Kananaskis@assembly.ab.ca 403.609.4509 |
Where can I learn more?
The following links provide more information about the advocacy priorities outlined above:
Foothills School Division Capital Plan 2023-2025
Foothills School Division Budget 2023-2024
Funding manual for school authorities 2022/2023 school year
Province of Alberta Education Act
Alberta 2022-2023 Mid-Year Fiscal Update and Economic Statement
Alberta Infrastructure - Planning school projects
Contact
communications@fsd38.ab.ca
superintendent@fsd38.ab.ca