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Learn more about your Calgary Catholic School District Board of Trustees!
We want to start by congratulating our two newest trustees, who were officially elected during our CCSD by-election on January 31, 2025. This brings us back up to a board of seven members.
ASBA and ACSTA
by Shannon Cook, Chair, CCSD Board of Trustees
Our board maintains strong relationships with both the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA) and the Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association (ACSTA), which are vital to our advocacy and professional development efforts.
The ASBA represents all 61 publicly funded school districts in Alberta, providing valuable resources for provincial advocacy, professional development for trustees, and opportunities for learning from other boards. The Calgary Catholic School District (CCSD) Board of Trustees works with ASBA on issues that affect all school districts in our province. During the ASBA fall general meeting, members passed position statements to guide ASBA’s advocacy. Some of the current priorities include advocating for increased funding from the government of Alberta to offset the growing cost of cybersecurity and threat mitigation for school districts and increasing Grant Funding Rates proportional to inflation, advocating for the government to prioritize the prevention of youth smoking and vaping as a public health issue, ensuring that sexual health education remains an “opt-out” option for parents in Alberta, and that school board autonomy be respected.
The ACSTA represents 24 Catholic school boards across Alberta, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories, serving as a crucial voice for publicly funded Catholic education. Again, CCSD works closely with ACSTA on many issues such as supporting the formation of teachers in our schools to serve as faithful Catholic witnesses and models for our students, celebrating and recognizing Catholic Education Week annually, attending ACSTA’s annual S.P.I.C.E. and Blueprints retreats to collaborate and explore current issues in Catholic education and more. As a demonstration of our commitment to these partnerships, the board appoints trustees each year to represent us within these organizations. Currently, Trustee Myra D’Souza serves as the ASBA Board Director, Trustee Lory Iovinelli represents our board as the ASBA Zone 5 Representative, and Trustee Mary Martin is our ACSTA Board Director. These appointments ensure active participation in the governance of both organizations and facilitate the exchange of information.
Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
CCSD’s Board of Trustees is committed to strategies that promote diversity, racial justice, and continual improvement, as outlined in our Board Policy Handbook. Central to this effort is our Racial Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (RJEDI) team, which supports leadership, learning and community engagement through a culturally responsive approach. The RJEDI team, part of the Arts and Culture department, includes consultants and FACE (Family and Community Engagement) workers, who are dedicated to fostering awareness and understanding in our schools and communities. CCSD’s commitment to social justice and inclusivity is embedded in how the district operates, which includes celebrating Black History Month in February.
I hope your February is filled with love and kindness!
