(Image Credit: Courtesy/Angela Baron)

By Jett Schwaier

Prairie Rose Public Schools

PRPS Board of Trustees met with Premier Smith and MLA Wright to discuss rural education

Mar 3, 2026 | 8:47 PM

The Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) Board of Trustees and senior leadership met with Premier Danielle Smith and Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright on Monday to discuss the division’s continued growth and the opportunities and challenges facing public education.

Trustees and senior leadership outlined examples of how recent provincial decisions are affecting students and families.

Officials pointed to the transition to a division-operated student transportation model as an improvement in service reliability, noting that adjustments to rural operations and maintenance funding grants have helped stabilize the division’s operating budget.

Board members highlighted the expansion of Prairie Rose collegiate programming in aviation and agriculture, which allows high school students to gain hands-on experience and earn industry credentials before graduation.

The programs are intended to support direct pathways into careers, apprenticeships and post-secondary education.

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Discussions also covered the range of programming offered across Prairie Rose schools, including academy models and specialized learning pathways delivered in rural, urban and online settings.

Trustees said the division is experiencing ongoing enrolment growth and increasing student complexity while delivering education across more than 26,000 sq. km.

The meeting included an exchange of views on workforce readiness, rural sustainability and how school divisions are adapting to changing student needs.

Prairie Rose Public Schools concluded the meeting by appreciating the opportunity to meet and reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with the Government of Alberta to support strong outcomes for students and communities.