Listen Live

Northern Lights Classroom Improvement Fund Approved

Northern Lights Public Schools says that Alberta Education has approved its fund to upgrade its schools as part of the latest provincial labour agreement.

“We have always benefited from a excellent collaborative working relationship with our ATA Local and that extended to the development of our CIF (Classroom Improvement Fund) application as well,” explained Board Chair Arlene Hrynyk. “We were able to come to a consensus on the best way to make an impact in our division with the dollars we were allocated.”

The CIF was part of the agreement reached between the Alberta Teachers’ Association and the Teachers Employer Bargaining Association in May. Northern Lights established a 10-member committee made up of trustees, senior administration and certified teaching staff to develop a plan that would address the needs of the division, its schools, staff, and impact students in our classrooms. Northern Lights was allocated $736,000.

“We polled the local membership soon after the announcement about CIF was made,” explained David Ripkens, President of ATA Local 15. “Teachers made it clear that kids should have equal opportunity to benefit from the classroom improvement funds. For some, that now means more teachers in their school; for others, it means literacy or technology resources at their fingertips. Being granted CIF money was not a foregone conclusion, the collaborative
relationship between the ATA local and the school board created the conditions to make it happen. Kids get to reap the rewards. This is a textbook win-win.”

The division’s plan includes hiring additional certified staff to address areas of need, such as assisting small rural schools with multiple grade level classrooms. Some funds have also been allocated to hiring additional non teaching support staff to address school needs.

At the division level, CIF will support the hiring of an assessment consultant who will work on a variety of assessment-related projects, including common assessments at the middle school level. Each school will also receive funding it can use for purchase resources, materials and technology to improve classroom conditions. The focus will be placed on materials and resources in areas such as First Nations, Metis and Inuit resources, assessment tools, learning commons, technology and literacy kits, to name just a few examples.

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Cold Lake council offering 1,000 free kids tickets for RCMP Musical Ride

The RCMP Musical Ride is coming to Cold Lake on July 24 and the city is making it easier for families to attend by giving up to 1,000 free children's tickets. 

Cold Lake adjusts sponsorship for RCMP charity golf tournament

During the June 24th council meeting, Cold Lake city council approved a request to move $3,500 sponsorship grant for the upcoming RCMP Charity Golf Tournament after the original sponsorship level became unavailable. 

Safety upgrades pushed for St. Brides intersection following deadly crash

St. Paul councillor is calling for safety improvements at the St. Brides intersection following a deadly crash in April that claimed three lives. 

Two arrested after firearm and drug seized in Elk Point

Two people are facing firearm and drug-related charges after Elk Point RCMP stopped a vehicle on the mourning of June 19.

Heat warning issued for the Lakeland region

Environment Canada has issued a heat warning for the Lakeland, with daytime highs expected to reach 29°C and overnight lows near 14°C for the next two days.
- Advertisement -