CTR CATHOLIC BOARD HIGHLIGHTS
from Board Meeting held on May 23, 2023
BOARD APPROVES BUDGET
The Board approved a good news budget with a small deficit of $850,567, representing less than 1% of CTR’s total revenues. CTR’s operating reserves will remain at approximately $3.3 million through to the end of the 2023/2024 school year. Class sizes are projected to be favourable, with an average class size of 23. CTR’s capital reserves stand at approximately $8.1 million and will be invested over the next three years in ventures such as modernizing Sacred Heart Academy and Holy Cross Collegiate in Strathmore, expanding the size of the gym at École Good Shepherd School in Okotoks, and purchasing technology, furniture, equipment, and robotics for computer coding.
BOARD CONFIDENT WITH CLASS SIZES
Below are CTR's projected class sizes for next year, listed by grade level.
CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK GETS WIDESPREAD ATTENTION
Catholic Education Week, May 15-19, was a huge success across CTR. Schools incorporated many faith activities and celebrations throughout the week such as adoration, living rosaries, good deeds, wearing blue and "Walking Together in Catholic Education". The schools also promoted Catholic Education on social media with videos.
NEW SUPERINTENDENT TRANSITIONS TO NEW ROLL
New Superintendent, Andrea Holowka, will be shadowing Superintendent Morrison over the next three weeks. She will visit every CTR school, attend graduations and events, meet with division office staff and plans to attend mass at parishes throughout the division over the summer. An Installation Mass will be held at the Opening PD Day on August 31st.
DR. MORRISON HONOURED FOR PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP
David Keohane, CEO with the College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS), presented the Board with a plaque in appreciation of Dr. Morrison's impactful leadership throughout his presidency at CASS. Dr. Morrison was presented with $1,500 for a student scholarship and chose to dedicate those funds to the Ron Schreiber Memorial Scholarship in honour of the Board.
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM REVIEW COMPLETE
Deputy Superintendent Behm advised that the technology consultant has conducted interviews with central office staff and teachers and will complete all work by the end of June. The final report will then be presented to the Board in September.
DRUMHELLER WARD
CANMORE WARD
Our Lady of the Snows Grade 11 students, Nami Dwyer and Miriam Purnhauser, have been invited to present to the Board in June on the Sustainability Club’s “Greenfoot Project” which focuses on optimizing energy efficiency for the school. Working with Rede Energy Solutions and CTR's Facilities Department, students identified several energy and cost savings measures.
STRATHMORE WARD
The Ward is excited about CTR receiving permission from the Minister to spend $1.8 million of capital reserves to modernize Sacred Heart Academy and Holy Cross Collegiate. In addition to getting a gym expansion for Sacred Heart Academy, the new band facility and social area for Holy Cross Collegiate will support this marquee program.
FOUR-YEAR EDUCATION PLAN APPROVED
The Board approved year three of the 2021-2025 Four-Year Education Plan. The plan highlights the division's goal of continuing the momentum of existing divisional priorities rather than adding new initiatives in an effort to limit initiative fatigue. The Board also approved the next three year faith theme "Faith: Seeking Understanding."
INTERNATIONAL TRIPS
The Board approved the following international field trips for Easter 2024 in full: St. John Paul II Collegiate to Ireland; Holy Trinity Academy to Cuba; and Holy Trinity Academy to San Jose, Costa Rica.
NINE LOCALLY-DEVELOPED COURSES APPROVED
The Board authorized nine locally-developed courses for use in high schools within the division. Locally-developed courses are set for renewal every four years. There were either minor or no changes to these courses.
LETTER OF SUPPORT
The Board agreed to write a letter of support for a non-profit group of community organizers to secure funding for a large indoor/outdoor pickleball and tennis facility. CTR is an active community partner in Okotoks and this facility will be accessed by our students frequently.
NEW SCHOOL CODE
The Board granted approval for administration to obtain a new school code for the Centre for Learning@Home for its summer school program to assist with the logistics of managing student data.
ALBERTA SCHOOL BOARDS ASSOCIATION (ASBA)
Trustee MacDonald (High River) reported that ASBA's Spring General Meeting will be held June 4-6. Agenda items will include bylaws, budget and positions statements. ASBA's Zone 5 Edwin Parr Celebration was held on May 18th. Divisional nominees from across the Zone were honoured, including CTR's Sara Presakarchuk from Sacred Heart Academy.
TEACHERS' EMPLOYER BARGAINING ASSOCIATION (TEBA)
Negotiations Committee Chair Mark Chung (Drumheller) advised that negotiation meetings were held with the ATA Local in April and May. Through these negotiations a Collective Agreement was agreed upon by the two parties. This Agreement was approved by the Board and had been ratified by the ATA Local in a general vote on May 11th.
ALBERTA CATHOLIC SCHOOL TRUSTEES' ASSOCIATION
At the beginning of May, CTR trustees and staff had the opportunity to attend the S.P.I.C.E and Blueprints Conferences hosted by the Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association. Trustee Gustafson (Okotoks) attended Blueprints noting that the conference was remarkable and beneficial to all attending.
TRUSTEE'S CORNER
By Andrea Keenan
Board Chair, Okotoks
Do you ever take the time to look back and find the time to be grateful? This past month has been a whirlwind of changes and commitments - professionally and personally. I would like to take the time to reflect on my blessings and for what I am grateful.
First, I am grateful for a season of renewal and change. It is a time to embrace what will happen and see what comes next. God’s plan is exactly how it should be, even though it is hard to see the path sometimes.
Second, I am grateful to have been able to attend two magnificent events this past month - Blueprints Retreat and GrACE Summit. To be able to be in a room both times with committed individuals who – as the GrACE mission states- “inspire, invigorate, and embolden Catholic education to unite, engage, educate and communicate with one voice…” was a blessing. To be reminded of why we as trustees do what we do for the betterment of Catholic education in Alberta, was soul renewing.
Third, I am forever grateful for having people in my life that I can look up to. I am so blessed and grateful to have an amazing family, friends that are like family, colleagues, and mentors who I strive to emulate. The indebted gratitude and respect I have is overwhelming. Because of these people I strive to be a better version of myself every day. They have made such a significant impact on my life and will continue to do so, I am sure.
And finally, I am forever grateful for my faith. When I had my moments of disconnect, and fixated on the self-imposed obstacles and doubt, I seriously hung on to the cross with dear life. I am always reminded that God will always give me the strength and reassure me – even in little ways - that everything will work out. I just have to work on my patience and be willing to accept God’s timing.
Honestly, this is just a Reader’s Digest version of my gratitude list, but sometimes it is so important to be grateful for what you have in the very moment. You may struggle with finding gratitude even on your darkest days. You may feel exhausted, broken, and unworthy, and that the world is on your shoulders. My prayer for you is that you can find gratitude, goodness and beauty in this world and know that you are never alone.
“Remember that you are never alone, Christ is with you on your journey every day of your lives.”
-- St. John Paul II.
NEXT BOARD MEETING DATE
The next Board meeting will take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 9:00 am at St. Anthony's School in Drumheller.
Board of Trustees
Andrea Keenan, Chair, Foothills County
Harry Salm, Vice Chair, Strathmore
Andrew Gustafson, Okotoks
Mark MacDonald, High River
Mark Chung, Drumheller
John de Jong, Brooks
Michelle Rude-Volk, Oyen
John-David Bogdanowski, Canmore
Superintendents
Dr. Scott Morrison, Superintendent
Vincent Behm, Deputy Superintendent
Michael Kilcommons, Associate Superintendent
Pat MacDonald, Associate Superintendent
Directors
Katelyn Nickel, Director of Corporate Services
Carmen Ostafichuk, Director of Human Resources
Dave Lunn, Director of Facilities
Cora-Leah Schmitt, Director of Student Services
Cheryl Kuemper, Director of Learning
Grant Gay, Director of Catholic Education
Cindy Nickerson, Director of Communications
For any information on items in this publication, please contact Michael Kilcommons, Associate Superintendent, at mkilcommons@redeemer.ab.ca or at 403-938-2659.