top of page

My Vision

NancyHuntForTrusteeWardD_Vision.png

My Priorities

Our schools are under increasing stress. Resources have been declining – class sizes are increasing while student supports have been decreasing, and we are seeing the consequences in terms of student and teacher wellness. It’s time to get things back on track and work to create the world class education system that our students deserve.

Actions I will take as Ward D Trustee​

LOWER CLASS
SIZES

1. Add class size goals to division priorities.

2. Share data with families to enable opting into lower enrolment schools.

3. Enable space sharing with out of school care.

4. Expand out of classroom experiences.

STUDENT & STAFF WELLNESS

  1. Ensure safe and welcoming spaces for ALL students 🌈.

  2. Create student - led wellness programs.

  3. Data tools to support staff & administration.

  4. Prioritize nutrition.

  5. Improve feedback and measurement.

BUILD & FIX
SCHOOLS

1. Advocate for all current and new projects.​

2. â€‹Re-open a Downtown school.

3. Propose a New Funding Model for Maintenance.

4. Gather data to understand program demand.

5. Table a Public School space first policy.

SUPPORT
ALL STUDENTS

  1. Provide strong division feedback against discriminatory legislation.

  2. More student assessments and supports.

  3. Promote Representation & Cultural Sensitivity.

  4. Build community connections.

  5. Lobby for flexible funding.

Lower Class Sizes

I’m hearing concerns about rising class sizes every day. One of the issues that my advocacy work with EPSAN (Edmonton Public Schools Advocacy Network) has touched on is the impacts of class size on student experience.

 

  • In HIGH SCHOOLS: The average class size for Grades 10-12 has gone up from 26.9 to 28.5 over the past 2 years.

  • In JUNIOR HIGHS: The average class size for Grades 7-9 has gone up from 25.9 to 27.4 over the past 2 years.

  • In ELEMENTARY: Most concerning to me is that the number of elementary classrooms with over 30 students has doubled over the past 2 years (up from 204 to 408). Alberta’s best practices suggest K-3 optimal class size at 17 and Gr 4-6 at 23 students.

Class Size Recommendations Fixed.jpg
4.jpg
3.jpg
2.jpg

Sources: EPSB Class Size Report 2025, Core Classes, and Alberta’s 20023 Commission on Learning, average class size recommendations

Actions I will take to address Class Sizes as Ward D Trustee​

​​

  1. BEST PRACTICES REPORTING: Include a comparison to best practices as part of our class size reporting.

  2. CREATE A DIVISION STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE: Propose the creation of a Division Standard of Excellence regarding class size, complexity and resourcing.

  3. WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO IMPROVE: organizing programming within the division, lobbying for resources (staff and infrastructure) to accomplish goals that Alberta government has already created.

Back to Top

Student & Staff Wellness

Wellness is a cornerstone of a student's ability to learn. As the saying goes, teachers' working conditions are students' learning conditions, and we need improvements in both areas.

​

My focus will be to prioritize the wellness of students and staff through strengthening mental health initiatives in our schools. Wellness includes a culmination of many factors including the physical environment, nutrition, fitness and sports, the fine arts, a respectful culture, and the availability of expert professionals for individual support and professional development.

Currently only 73% of students feel their learning environment is welcoming, caring, respectful and safe, and this number is declining.

assurance survey.png

SOURCES: Annual Education Results Report, November 2024, p. 62

From the ATA News (https://teachers.ab.ca/news/stark-realities)

ATA.png

Although wellness and mental health is a priority in our Division’s 2022-26 Strategic Plan, the current trajectory is not good; different actions are needed. 

Actions I will take to address Student & Staff Wellness as Ward D Trustee

​​

  1. ORGANIZATIONAL DESIGN: To truly embed wellness into our culture, it also needs to be everyone’s responsibility. I will propose an evaluation of organizational best practices in this regard.

  2. STUDENT AND STAFF PARTICIPATION: Students, especially in the senior grades, know what they need to thrive. I will work towards opening more communication channels to really listen and learn.

  3. ENSURE MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES HAVE A VOICE: Take extra effort to ensure all students are heard by ensuring open communication channels and specific measures are in place for communities including LGBTQIA2S+, Newcomers, and BIPOC communities,

  4. MEASUREMENT: Increase the depth and specificity of wellness measures so a more detailed wellness and mental health plan can be created.

Back to Top

Build & Fix Schools

I will advocate for urgently needed funding for both new schools and maintenance/refurbishment of our aging schools. Importantly, I will also work towards changes in the funding model to ensure more predictability and attention to community needs.

EPSB is approximately 5 years behind on new school infrastructure and has over $1.4 Billion in deferred maintenance - a figure which continues to rise.

spaces by year.png

SOURCES: Ten Year Facilities Plan, March 2025, p. 8

EPSB is anticipated to run out of space by 2028 (a number which has improved this year during my advocacy work on this topic).

Actions that I will take to Build & Fix Schools as Ward D Trustee​

​​

  1. ENSURE CURRENT PROJECTS PROGRESS: There are 13 school projects (new or modernization) in some stage of funding, but only 5 of them are approved for full construction. It is critical to see that all of these projects continue to move forward. For Ward D specifically Delton school replacement.

  2. ADVOCATE FOR FULL FUNDING OF NEW PRIORITIES: It is critical that we continue the momentum on new schools across the city so that all schools have reasonable class sizes.

  3. PROPOSE A NEW FUNDING MODEL FOR MAINTENANCE: I will propose a block funding model, which provides stability, predictability and efficiency. For Ward D, McNally modernization is a top priority.

  4. UNDERSTAND PROGRAM DEMAND: With a small change to pre-enrolment we can understand what families would prefer from EPSB and be better equipped to lobby the province for new schools.

Back to Top

Support All Students

It is our responsibility as PUBLIC schools to welcome and fully support all students. I will work to ensure this support encompasses the entire education experience from transportation through in class learning and school-family connections.

specialized supports.png

SOURCES: Ten Year Facilities Plan, March 2025, p. 8

photo.png

Students are falling through the cracks, with not enough Educational Assistants and other specialists, long wait times for assessments, and not enough time for one-on-one teacher support.

Actions that I will take to Support All Students as Ward D Trustee​

​​

  1. LOBBYING FOR A FLEXIBLE FUND: Classroom help should always be available and the division needs a portion of flexible funding to accommodate unpredictable challenges.

  2. ADVOCATE FOR FULL FUNDING OF NEW PRIORITIES: It is critical that we continue the momentum on new schools across the city so that all schools have reasonable class sizes.

  3. PROPOSE A NEW FUNDING MODEL FOR MAINTENANCE: We need a coalition of advocates to lobby the provincial government for more student eligibility for support services including assessments and learning support services.

  4. REPRESENTATION AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: Ensure policy is in place that supports all students.

I’d love to hear your feedback on these priorities and action plans and to hear any other priorities that you would like to share.

Feel free to contact me: nancy@nancy-hunt.ca

bottom of page