Hello everyone,

As you know, these are challenging times for all. First and foremost, I extend my well-wishes for the health and safety of each of you. As we work diligently with government and education partners to keep our members informed and to provide support, it is important to remember that we are all in this together.

Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), including our Board of Directors and executive team, have been closely following developments of COVID-19. This has involved various meetings and teleconferences with government and other education partners on a variety of topics affecting education in Alberta.

A few of these topics have been the cancellation of in-person classes at schools, supports and resources for boards, and changes to funding allocations. We appreciate the leadership of ASBA’s Board of Directors and the opportunity from government to provide input on the continuity of student learning to ensure our students continue to learn and thrive.

The pace required to adapt to these changing circumstances is unprecedented. We know this situation will continue to evolve, and so too will our responses.

As we move forward, developments are rapidly emerging. But I assure you that we continue to be committed to leading in this important time, and will continue to provide updates and details to our members to help ensure the health and safety of teachers, students, families and everyone affected by COVID-19.

Under these unprecedented times, we remind you to look to your school trustees, who have been elected by their communities to lead; this remains at the forefront of their minds. Our trustees ensure the best education possible for all students in Alberta, while remaining accountable to full community. School boards and division staff have been working tirelessly to provide for ongoing learning, so students do not fall behind.

I want to express my thanks and deep appreciation to ASBA’s Board of Directors, executive team and staff for the resilience and collaboration they have demonstrated under extraordinary time constraints.

I am also grateful for our members’ understanding and patience as we make decisions during this global health crisis. We have faced many challenges thus far. Our collaboration and cooperation together will make all the difference in securing the best possible outcomes, while taking care of each other.

Thank you to all for your patience around changing processes and for your perseverance through this uncertainty.

We will continue to keep you informed on important information related to ASBA and encourage you to stay up to date on public health information and updates through Alberta’s website.

Lorrie Jess,

ASBA, President