Prairie Rose Public Schools provides updates on Redcliff and agriculture schools, and board chairs

Once design work is complete and construction funding approved, the division expects a request for proposals to be issued for the remaining design and construction work.

Alberta Education staff have recommended the project proceed toward construction funding, but Prairie Rose said it is still waiting for confirmation and timelines.

The Town of Redcliff has also started the process of transferring ownership of the school site to the division.

Prairie Rose plans to involve the community in choosing a name for the new school, with trustees making the final decision.

The division’s Education Foundation will also look into grant opportunities to help fund an artificial turf field at the new school.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Yuill School of Agriculture, which is scheduled to open in September 2027.

Roof trusses are now being installed at the facility. Plans call for a storefront, a commercial kitchen designed around the learning environment at Lethbridge Polytechnic, a veterinary laboratory capable of accommodating large animals and a shop where students can work on large agricultural equipment.

The second floor has plans for five classrooms with movable walls that can be configured for different learning and gathering needs.

Prairie Rose is also exploring ways for students throughout the division to access programs and learning opportunities at the new facility.

Fundraising for the agriculture school has raised approximately $978,000 since May, with much of the money coming through naming opportunities and the Raise the Roof Gala.

Proceeds from an August golf tournament will also be added to the total.

The school division thanked organizers, sponsors and donors for supporting the project.

Trustees also received an update on the newly established Prairie Rose Public Schools Education Foundation, which is expected to hold its inaugural meeting this fall.

The foundation is intended to provide additional opportunities to support division projects and programming through fundraising and access to grants not previously available to Prairie Rose.

The board also approved declaring two division-owned properties surplus: the former Glen Echo School property and four lots in Bindloss.

Under provincial requirements, declaring property surplus through a board motion is the first step before the division can submit the properties to the Government of Alberta and potentially proceed with a sale or transfer.

In other business, trustees were told that the SafeArrival attendance system has now been implemented across Prairie Rose schools.

The system works with PowerSchool and notifies families when a student has not arrived for class, providing an attendance-monitoring tool.

The division is also implementing new literacy and numeracy screening and intervention requirements under Bill 25.

Prairie Rose teams are coordinating the rollout of the required screenings and additional supports intended to identify and address student learning needs.

Trustees received an update on the Jurassic Battery Energy Storage System, an 80-megawatt battery project being developed near Jenner in Cypress County.

The system is designed to store electricity and return it to Alberta’s grid when needed, supporting grid reliability and the integration of renewable energy.

Prairie Rose noted the project builds on its existing involvement in wind energy through the Alberta Schools Commodities Purchasing Consortium.

The board also renewed its annual ATB borrowing resolution, authorizing up to $750,000 in short-term borrowing if required.

The division said the authority is a financial planning measure renewed annually and has never been used previously.

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Pam Cursons (left) will serve as Vice-Chair, and Patty Rooks (right) as the Board Chair for Prairie Rose Public Schools after the organizational meeting on Tuesday. (Image Credit: Prairie Rose Public Schools)

At the organizational meeting, trustees elected Patty Rooks as board chair and Pam Cursons as vice-chair for the 2026-27 school year.

Cursons will serve as the division’s representative to the Alberta School Boards Association, with Rooks as alternate.

Darren Howes was named the Public School Boards Association of Alberta representative, with Janel Vossler as alternate.

Cursons will also represent Prairie Rose on the Teachers’ Employer Bargaining Association, and Nancy Haraga will represent the division on the Rural Caucus of Alberta School Boards.

Trustees also recognized Prairie Rose transportation staff and bus drivers for their work preparing routes and transportation services for the new school year.

The division’s transportation team was also recognized for providing buses and transportation services during the 2026 Special Olympics, helping athletes travel between venues.

by Jesse Gill

Prairie Rose Public Schools provides updates on Redcliff and agriculture schools, and board chairs

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