Members pass positions during Fall General Meeting that will guide provincial advocacy

During the event, members conducted elections for ASBA’s President and Vice-president and considered submitted positions.

Election of President and Vice-president
Members elected Shali Baziuk as President and Devonna Klassen as Vice-president, each beginning their first terms.

Member Passed Positions

Full Government Funding for Complex Needs Students Requiring Fourth and Fifth Year of High School
WHEREAS, students with complex needs often require more time in high school to complete their high school requirements, but Alberta's current funding model provides only partial funding for students in their fourth and fifth years, creating inequities in access to education.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, The ASBA advocates for the Government of Alberta to provide additional full, and sustainable funding for students with complex needs who are enrolled in a fourth or fifth year of high school, ensuring equitable access to the life and career skills all students need to succeed, as affirmed in Alberta's Inclusive Education Policy.

Indigenous Spaces in Schools
WHEREAS, Alberta's Education Act states that: “students are entitled to welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environments that respect diversity and nurture a sense of belonging and a positive sense of self”; and

WHEREAS, research demonstrates that students who feel a sense of belonging and connection at school are more engaged, attend more regularly, and thrive in their learning; and

WHEREAS, strengthening Indigenous education initiatives is a vital step toward the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada; and

WHEREAS, the inclusion of culturally significant pursuits should not come at the expense of other essential school needs, nor be treated as an afterthought;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT, ASBA advocates to the Government of Alberta for additional and dedicated funding and space allocation to support the planning and implementation of culturally significant Indigenous spaces within existing schools, new school builds and modernizations, where a board has deemed necessary and appropriate, recognizing that these inclusive learning environments will foster a sense of belonging, improve educational attainment, and enhance success rates for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students.