Education
Red Deer Public Schools name new Superintendent
From Red Deer Public Schools
Board names its next Superintendent of Schools
The Board of Trustees is pleased to announce the appointment of Chad Erickson as Superintendent of Schools effective August 5, 2020. Mr. Erickson will take over from Stu Henry who is retiring after a 33 years career in education and having served the division as Superintendent for the last five years. Prior to that, Mr. Henry served Red Deer Public as Deputy Superintendent and as principal at Eastview Middle School.
Currently Associate Superintendent – Student Services, Mr.
Erickson has been a teacher and administrator for 23 years.
Erickson joined Red Deer Public Schools in 2005 as Vice
Principal at Oriole Park School and then became Principal of
the Alternative School Centre in 2009 prior to joining the
Division’s Senior Admin team five years ago. Mr. Erickson received his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta as well as a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Portland.
“Mr. Erickson is an exceptional and respected leader who brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the role of Superintendent”, said Board Chair, Nicole Buchanan. “The Board conducted an extensive search and considered options in selecting the next Superintendent. The Board felt that Mr. Erickson will provide strong valued leadership to Red Deer Public Schools while bringing continuity and stability to the district.”
“When embarking on the Superintendent search, the Board of Trustees, through consultations with our stakeholders, identified the key attributes it was seeking in its next leader,” said Chair Buchanan. “We have confidence our new superintendent will:
- build strong collaborative relationships and partnerships throughout the district, in our community, and with government
- provide strong, trustworthy, and visionary leadership in potentially challenging years ahead
- ensure a continued focus on student and staff wellness / resilience
- ensure our district focus on equity and inclusion continues to thrive
- ensure quality educational practice throughout the district to support our pillars of
numeracy & literacy, equity, and student success and completion
“It’s an honour to serve in this role and I appreciate the confidence the Board has demonstrated in me,” said Erickson. “I welcome the opportunity to continue the great work our division has undertaken to best meet the needs of our students. We have an outstanding and committed staff with tremendous support from parents and the community to provide great learning opportunities for students”, said Erickson. “The opportunity to work with teachers, support staff and community partners to best meet the needs of all learners is exciting. Red Deer Public’s reputation to respond to the unique needs of students is outstanding. We have great opportunities to ensure students succeed and reach their full potential.
“Chad is an outstanding leader who is committed to meeting the needs of each student. He is a known champion for excellence in instruction, inclusion as well as mental health and wellness that ensures student needs are met and they achieve their full potential,” said current Superintendent Stu Henry.
“Stu Henry has provided incredible leadership to Red Deer Public Schools and is highly respected as Superintendent across the district and beyond. He has positioned the District well, as a strong and passionate champion for public education and our priorities on Literacy and Numeracy, Equity, Student success and Completion”, said Chair Buchanan.
Henry and his wife Trudy, who recently retired as a principal in Chinook’s Edge School Division, plan to stay in Red Deer and be active in the community.
Education
Higher spending on K-12 education does not result in better student outcomes
From the Fraser Institute
By Derek J. Allison
Higher levels of per-student spending do not achieve higher student scores on standardized tests, either internationally or among the provinces, finds a new report published today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank.
“Just spending more on K-12 education does not lead to better student outcomes,” said Derek J. Allison, Fraser Institute senior fellow and author of School Spending and Performance in Canada and Other High-Income Countries.
The study compares provincial per-student spending on K-12 education in 2018 (the last year of comparable data) to other high-income countries in the OECD and to performance on the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
It finds that higher per-student spending levels are not associated with stronger academic achievement. In fact, in 2018, 10 countries—or one third—of the high income OECD countries included in the analysis spent more per student than Canada but achieved significantly lower PISA scores.
Similarly, among the provinces, Saskatchewan was the highest per-student spender among the provinces but ranked 8th out of 10 on PISA scores. Manitoba was the second-highest per-student spender and recorded the lowest PISA scores nationwide. Conversely, British Columbia was the lowest spender per student in Canada and achieved the fourth-highest PISA scores.
“The evidence is clear—simply spending more on established K-12 schools without finding new and better ways to help kids learn will not improve student outcomes,” Allison said.
Provincial per-student spending (2018) compared to core PISA score
Province Spending Core PISA score
Saskatchewan Highest spender 8th
Manitoba 2nd Lowest PISA score
Alberta 3rd Highest PISA score
Nova Scotia 4th 5th
Ontario 5th 3rd
New Brunswick 6th 9th
Quebec 7th 2nd
P.E.I. 8th 7th
Newfoundland and Labrador 9th 6th
British Columbia Lowest spender 4th
Blackfalds
New Catholic Elementary School for Blackfalds
News release from Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools
RDCRS receives full construction funding for new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Blackfalds
On Monday, March 4, Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) received full construction funding from the Government of Alberta to construct a new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in Blackfalds.
“The full construction funding for the new Kindergarten to Grade 5 school in the vibrant growing community of Blackfalds marks a significant milestone in our government’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art education infrastructure for our communities. This investment illustrates our dedication to meeting the evolving needs of our students and ensuring they have access to modern, innovative learning environments,” stated MLA for Red Deer North and Minister of Health Adriana LaGrange.
RDCRS appreciates the construction funding provided by the Government of Alberta. Over the past several years, Blackfalds has seen tremendous growth. RDCRS’ current Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 9 school located in Blackfalds, St. Gregory the Great Catholic School, has grown by 64% since its establishment in 2017.
“We are very pleased to receive full construction funding for a new Catholic elementary school in Blackfalds. The funding will allow the division an opportunity to build a much needed new school and meet the learning needs of our Blackfalds students,” said Board Chair Murray Hollman at Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools.
The schematic design for the new school has progressed smoothly since RDCRS received design funding from the Government of Alberta in March 2023. The plans look excellent and work is ongoing between Alberta Infrastructure and the Town of Blackfalds to ensure the steps to secure the land in the new development are completed. The land needs to be ready for construction according to the timelines and criteria established in the P3 project.
“We are pleased that the progress achieved thus far has demonstrated the collaborative efforts necessary to warrant this full funding announcement, “ added Board Chair Hollman.
The new school is expected to be ready for occupancy in September 2027.
Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools serves over 10,650 students in 21 schools in Red Deer, Blackfalds, Sylvan Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Innisfail, and Olds. It also supports the learning of over 850 students in a Home Education Program. The Division is committed to serving children and parents with a complete offering of learning opportunities delivered within the context of Catholic teachings and within the means of the Division.
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