An Okotoks resident with a child in the public school system is calling for more communication between parents and the Foothills School Division.
Darren Stuber said although there are often positive things happening at Foothills schools, they aren’t always communicated to the community and parents.
“There is a lot of great things I hear when I come here but that doesn’t get disseminated back to parents – parents don’t know unless you throw it in a school newsletter,” Stuber told Foothills trustees at their Feb. 15 public meeting. “Engagement is two ways. Parents showing up at events the division puts on needs to improve.”
Stuber, who has attended several of the past public school board meetings, said he was disappointed with the turnout at a Feb. 9 open house concerning adding another trustee for Okotoks when only five parents attended.
He said one solution would be having more information concerning board meetings.
“Would it be possible to get agendas emailed out to the schools – what is going on at these meetings, with some details when they are pressing issues?” Stuber asked trustees.
He also recommended more detailed minutes about the meetings be made available.
Highlights from board meetings are posted on the division’s website.
He said parental concerns doesn’t often arise unless something controversial is on the table.
“People get involved when there are hot-button topics,” Stuber said. “This spring was an example dealing with the Education Minister’s guidelines for best practices. There was lots of engagement at the parent council level, lots of engagement when it came to parents attending board meetings, but now that has died down.”
He was also concerned about the recent leave of Okotoks trustee Laurie Copland, saying he has received mixed messages about her stepping down, whether it is for personal reasons or for her facing charges of theft and fraud over $5,000. The charges are not in relation to any of her duties with the Foothills School Division.
The division received a letter prior to its Oct. 19 meeting from Copland requesting a personal leave.
However, Stuber said coverage by the media, including the Okotoks Western Wheel, has sent mixed messages. Some past articles have stated she is on personal leave, but don’t mention the charges, while other articles have mentioned the charges.
“I would like a straight answer why the person I voted for, and is elected in my ward, isn’t sitting in on these meetings and isn’t able to bring my concerns forward,” Stuber said.
Drew Chipman, division assistant superintendent - corporate finances, said he could not discuss the issue.
“The board and the administration is not going to get into why an individual took a personal leave – that’s personal,” Chipman said.
However, Chipman added Stuber made some good points about and getting more parents involved.
Jeannine Tucker, Black Diamond-Turner Valley-Longview’s trustee told Stuber getting more parents involved “is the million-dollar question.”
“If you have the answers for that, I am all for them,” said Tucker, who is also representing Percy Pegler Elementary School in Copland’s absence.
In an interview on Feb. 17, Stuber said he had a positive talk with Foothills chairwoman Christine Pretty.
The board’s next meeting is today March 1, in High River at 1 p.m.
For more information go to fsd38.ab.ca
