ASCA AGM RESOLUTIONS 2024 - SECTION I: Proposed Advocacy Resolutions for Member Review 

1. Integrate Climate and Biodiversity Education Throughout the Curriculum from K-12

 

Issue:

A framework for embedding climate & biodiversity education in Alberta schools must be integrated throughout the curriculum from K-12 and should incorporate hands-on learning experiences with a focus on critical thinking, equity, and wellbeing.

 

2. Funding for More Assessments of Learning Disabilities 

 

Issue:

More funding is needed for schools and families to access professionals like psychologists, speech and language therapists, physical therapists and all other resources needed to assess children with learning disabilities. Currently one kid gets an assessment if needed a year as per the <school> budget or if the parent goes to Alberta Health Services (AHS). The wait list is years. Health care including mental health should be free and the school should have access to free services that are not wait listed. That child and the teacher should have access to the follow up support as frequently as needed and not on the rotating schedule it currently is.

 

Sponsor: Kensington School Council

 

Contact: Michelle Kurulok - [email protected]

3. Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in Alberta Classrooms and Shared Environments

 

Background: Last year, Alberta experienced significant forest fires, leading to major air quality issues in many schools across the province. Temperatures climbing over 25°C and toxic air quality outside prevented the opening of windows, causing suffering among children. The lack of airflow and indoor air quality exacerbated the number of children absent from school, resulting in learning loss. Additionally, there was an increase in asthma attacks and other respiratory illnesses due to the lack of clean air.

 

Sponsor: Kensington School Council

 

Contact: Michelle Kurulok [email protected]

              Claire Kraatz [email protected]

4. Equity in Playground Funding

 

Issue:

Despite an equal scope of work for redevelopment, playgrounds on school board property can only access matching CFEP funding of $125,000, while there is a new school playground grant of $250,000 available to new schools. This creates huge inequities because it requires parents to bear the burden of raising several hundreds of thousands of dollars, especially at older schools in aging neighbourhoods.

 

Sponsor: Forest Heights School Council

 

Contact Person: Jill Tucker [email protected]

5. Preserving Safe and Inclusive Spaces for 2SLGBTQI+ Students

 

Issue:

Within the province of Alberta, supports for 2SLGBTQI+ students are already in place. In other provinces across Canada, there have been legislative changes to erode similar supports. We believe it is important to ensure these supports remain intact in the province of Alberta.

 

Sponsor: Sam Livingston School Council

 

Contact Us: Tosca Nesbitt [email protected]

6. Resource Support for French Immersion Teachers (Available Before Implementation of Curriculum Changes)

 

Issue:

Curriculum changes require professional development for teachers, as well as a gathering of resources to be utilized within the classroom ready at time of launch. Alberta Learning has English resources available, however French Immersion resources are lacking at the time of curriculum implementation. This creates undue stress on teachers, requiring more time and effort to secure resources for French Immersion classrooms, and has the potential for students to be disadvantaged in their learning if adequate resources cannot be sourced.

 

Sponsor: École Broxton Park School Council

 

Contact: Amber Ruben [email protected]

7. Enhanced Reporting of and Support for Class Size and Complexity

 

Issue:

Class numbers are growing larger, class composition is becoming more complex making learning difficult for students and teachers in Alberta schools.

 

Sponsor: ASCA Board of Directors 

 

Contact: Wendy Keiver, Executive Director [email protected]

8. Maintain Advocacy Policies: 94-8, 02-15, 03-9, 04-15, 14-3

 

9. Amend Advocacy Policies: 02-13, 02-12 and 02-04; and to Revise ASCA Advocacy Policies 03-07 and 08-06