My Vision
My Priorities
Our division is under stress as we are behind in infrastructure and resourcing. We must be ready to respond with urgency and think outside the box while we play catch up with new school construction and anticipated new staff. I am prepared to hit the ground running with a slate of solutions that can be implemented in short order to improve classroom conditions for students and teachers.
​
As the four year term progresses, my priorities will evolve and change, but will always stay true to this vision. My commitment to you is that with every issue, decision and interaction you can count on me for continuous communication and transparency, and evidence based decision making.
Actions I will take as Ward D Trustee​
Lower Class Sizes
By prioritizing class size best practices, we can focus on creating a better classroom experience for students and teachers. Focusing on class size will lead to the right number of schools, the right programming, and the right amount of teachers and support staff.
​
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. Only 36% of EPSB classrooms are within Alberta's recommended guidelines. 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.
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​​​​​
​
-
ADD CLASS SIZE GOALS TO DIVISION PRIORITIES: By making class size everyone's priority, we will continuously work on all ideas to create better classroom conditions.
-
LOBBY THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT: Our province has strict regulations requiring minimum adult-to-child ratios in early childhood and out of school care, but does not have these standards for classrooms. I would like to see class standards for K-12 education, which would include a similar ratio as well as support for class complexity.
-
SHARE DATA WITH FAMILIES: Our entire community can work together towards class size standards by understanding the situation. We can learn from families and create programming to optiize class conditions.
-
ENABLE SPACE SHARING WITH OUT OF SCHOOL CARE. Instead of removing child care spaces when things get crowded, work on interim plans to share space.
-
EXPAND OUT OF CLASSROOM EXPERIENCES. Enriched or alternative programs could open to double capacity in some schools. EPSB has highly successful sports and fine arts programs. Buy partnering with other recreation or arts facilities these programs could be 50% out of school, freeing up space for more classes.
Student & Staff Wellness
Wellness is a cornerstone of a student's ability to learn and a teacher's ability to teach.
​My focus will be to embed wellness and good mental health into our entire school community, rather than it being an add-on or an afterthought. 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.
It is alarming that only 31% of girls and 57% of boys ages 5-17 are meeting Canada's Participaction guidelines for physical activity ("2024 Children and Youth Report Card, ParticipACTION").
Currently only 73% of students feel their learning environment is welcoming, caring, respectful and safe, and this number is declining.
SOURCES: Annual Education Results Report, November 2024, p. 62
From the ATA News (https://teachers.ab.ca/news/stark-realities)
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
​​
-
ENSURE SAFE AND WELCOMING SPACES 🌈: Recent provincial legislation has specifically affected our transgender students. It is my commitment that school communities will always be safe spaces and I will take action in this regard. I will ensure we are working with students to create the safe spaces that they need and support this with policy and measures. For sports, I will work with students and organizations to change league structures so that ALL students can participate.
-
CREATE STUDENT-LED WELLNESS PROGRAMS: Students, especially in the senior grades, know what they need to thrive. I will work on opening communication channels and creating student leadership to enable the programs they need. As an example, a simple daily motivational text messages can really help to support students.
-
PRIORITIZE NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: I will propose that every school include nutrition and physical activity plans as part of their wellness strategies, focusing on making both accessible and inclusive.
-
DATA TOOLS TO SUPPORT STAFF & ADMINISTRATION: Teachers and administrators need all the tools to enable them to maximize time spent with students. To support them, I propose leveraging AI and data analysis tools where possible to support activities such as scheduling and space optimization, tools that are currently in place at some universities.
-
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.
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.
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​
​​
-
ADVOCATE FOR ALL CURRENT PROJECTS AND NEW PROJECTS: 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). It is also critical that we continue the momentum on new schools across the city so that all schools have reasonable class sizes. Part of my advocacy will be to proactively monitor status and ask questions about site readiness, building efficiency and optimizing use of limited funds.
-
PURSUE RE-OPENING A DOWNTOWN SCHOOL Families in the core are asking for a local school and our city wants to revitalize downtown! It is a potential win-win to re-open one of our closed schools (Alex Taylor, McKay Avenue, McCauley). Additional school space in the core with on site before and after school care, could also be attractive to families living in other parts of the City who drive downtown for work. Also, the potential for partnership and enrichment is immense with proximity to the Art Gallery, Museum, Winspear, and Rogers Place.
-
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.
-
GATHER DATA TO 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.
-
TABLE A PUBLIC SCHOOL SPACE FIRST POLICY : Our tax dollars are currently funding infrastructure for all types of school divisions including Public, (which includes Catholic, Francophone) Charter and Private schools. Public schools are the only schools that are fully inclusive to all learners and are available without fees. As such, I will propose a "Public School Space First" policy where any new school building must include space for EPSB, unless our division already has adequate space in that community.
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.
SOURCES: Ten Year Facilities Plan, March 2025, p. 8
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​
​​
-
LOBBY FOR CHANGES TO LEGISLATION: There are recent policies that I would like to see back in the realm of the school division, not the provincial government and I will use evidence to work on these. For example, curation and ratings of books should be the responsibility of the school division's teacher librarians. Also, the new paperwork for girls' sports teams has had a detrimental effect on girls' and transgender girls participation in sports - sports is essential for well being.
-
MORE STUDENT ASSESSMENTS AND SUPPORT: Lobby the provincial government for more student eligibility for support services including assessments and learning support services.
-
PROMOTE REPRESENTATION AND CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: I will work to ensure policy is in place to ensure support for all students is respectful of each individual.
-
BUILD COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: During this time of tight resources, I will work towards strengthening relationships with community and organizations wherever possible.
-
LOBBY FOR FLEXIBLE FUNDING: To do our very best at supporting all students, we need to be able to act quickly and adapt. I will request a flexible funding block to help us channel resources where they are most needed.
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