PRAIRIE SPIRIT SCHOOL DIVISION

BOARD GOVERNANCE POLICY MANUAL 

Policy#12 - Learning Environment, Programs and Services

The Prairie Spirit School Division is responsible for public education, Grades K through 12, throughout the Division according to provincial guidelines. The Division follows the Manitoba Curriculum for all English programming and schools offer the entire core curriculum.  Three schools offer French Immersion or Francais programming following the Manitoba Curriculum. Appropriate Education Programming for most students is the provincial curriculum. Some students may require additional supports to access the curriculum, and a smaller number of students may require highly individualized learning outcomes in addition to or instead of the provincial curriculum. 

The Division believes that a strong public school system is the cornerstone of a democratic society that promotes well-being and citizenship for all. Given the crucial importance of schools in the intellectual, emotional, social and physical development and growth of all children and youth, each school must be a place of high-quality teaching and learning. Quality learning opportunities, that are available equitably to all children and youth, enable each student to reach their full potential.

In response to the stated Mission, Vision, Belief Statements and Goals, the Board expects effective, engaging and caring learning communities. 

The Superintendent is responsible to: 

• Ensure programs and services are in compliance with provincial requirements. 

• Ensure, as far as reasonably practical, appropriate educational programming is available to all Division students. 

• Ensure all schools provide a continuum of services through a divisional framework for supporting the learning needs of all students. 

• Implement assessment and evaluation practices which: 

• Ensure the achievement of provincial, division and school goals; 

• Foster an equitable, effective and efficient school system; 

• Are grounded in current research to contribute to the achievement of provincial, division and school goals;

• Promote student growth and improvement; and 

• Ensure assessment procedures are meaningful, consistent, accurate and linked to curricular outcomes as determined by Manitoba Education

• Ensure each school, as a community of learning, facilitates and participates in a school development planning process to create an annual plan that provides specific focus and emphasis on goals and actions vital to advancing quality teaching, equitable access to learning, and achievement for all students. 

• Establish administrative procedures to maintain safe and effective environments for all students and staff. 

• Establish a dispute resolution process (refer to procedure KF) to be followed if there is disagreement about the appropriateness of the educational programming being provided to students. 

• Promote and support a culture characterized by mutual respect. 

Specific Directives

In addition to the above, the Superintendent and Secretary-Treasurer must specifically ensure administrative procedures, operations and practices are implemented in the Division to address the following:

• As a way to minimize distractions in schools, the Manitoba government is banning the use of cellphones in the classroom starting September 2024.  Specifically this will include:

• banning cellphone use during school hours, including lunch and breaks, for students in kindergarten to Grade 8;

• banning cellphone use for students in grades 9 to 12 during class time, with cell phone use permitted during breaks and lunch; and

• clear direction for cellphone use in classrooms for school staff.