KB-P1 - Community Information and Involvement

Prairie Spirit School Division recognizes that the school system is only as strong as the informed support of the people of the School Division.  It shall therefore provide information to the public by:

1. Declaring all regular Board meetings to be open to the public, except where legal, personnel, or negotiations matters are under discussion [ PSA 30(3)]  (See also Policy #5);

2. Issuing news releases on matters of policy, program, and fiscal concerns which it believes are important for public knowledge (See also Policy #5);

3. Having approved minutes distributed to schools and other organizations (see also Policy #5); and,

4. Attempting to keep employee groups, parents, community members, and the general public informed on the policies, programs, and plans of the School Division.

In addition, the Board is cognizant of the legal obligations placed upon it.  It will therefore also:

1. Publish a summary or a condensation of the annual financial report and state in the publication thereof that a copy of the audited financial report is available for inspection by any resident elector [PSA 41(1)(d)];

2. Make available for examination and inspection in the offices of the Secretary Treasurer’s department a copy of:

   1. The final budget for the current year or any year within the last five years as adopted by the Board and submitted to the Schools Finance Board, but excluding therefrom information that may be related directly to any individual employee or to any current negotiations in respect of employee remuneration or benefits; and

   2. The audited financial statements of the School Board for any year within the last five years [PSA 41(1)(e)];

   3. The Annual Compensation Report as required under the Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act, 6(1).

3. Provide opportunity for consultation with school advisory councils or local school committees in the School Division before approving its annual budget [PSA 178(1)];

4. Provide to school advisory councils and local school committees any information that is reasonably necessary for their operation [PSA 41(1)(v)]; and,

5. On an annual basis, report to the residents of the School Division any results of assessments of the effectiveness of educational programs [PSA 41(1)(x)].

The division believes that the schools belong to the people whom they are created to serve.  It therefore intends that all reasonable efforts should be made to identify the desires of the community and to be responsive, through its actions, to those desires.  There are two major ways in which the will of the community shall influence the development of Board policies:

1. 1. The people of the Division are responsible for electing Board members to represent their ward.

   2. All citizens of the Division are encouraged to express ideas, concerns, and opinions about the school through such means as:

      • Written suggestions or proposals;

      • Presentations at hearings or at Board meetings (see also Policy #5);

      • Responses to surveys made regarding education;

      • Attendance at open meetings of the Board; and

      • Active involvement with the school’s Advisory Council.