ATM: Community and Collaboration

As we navigate the realities of ongoing labour action, we want to take a moment to acknowledge the challenges this situation presents our students, staff, and families. First and foremost, we respect the legal right of CUPE Local 5040 to engage in job action. At the same time, we recognize and appreciate the collective efforts made to ensure continuity of learning and to uphold our commitment to safe, caring, and welcoming school environments.

Leading a school division extends beyond policy decisions and logistical planning—it requires empathy, adaptability, and a deep commitment to student success. It means making difficult choices in uncertain times and engaging in respectful, sometimes difficult, conversations. It also means responding with professionalism and understanding to concerns expressed by our community, recognizing that frustration and uncertainty often accompany situations like these. While approximately one-third of our staff exercise their legal right to job action, our focus remains on supporting students and maintaining their learning experience to the greatest extent possible.

The Board recognizes that Foothills School Division school staff are doing extraordinary work every day to assure a continuity of learning across the Division. We offer our gratitude to Superintendent Fuzessy and his team, as well as to our school leaders and teachers who are working with dedication to ensure that learning continues safely and seamlessly. While the structural details of our contingency planning are available on our website, what is less visible—but just as critical—is the immense effort, adaptability, and care that has gone into maintaining stability during this time of disruption. We are deeply grateful for the resilience and commitment of those who continue to serve our students and community.

To support schools, the Division has redeployed human resources, including Division Office staff, to assist in meeting student needs while ensuring safe learning environments. While these individuals may not always work directly in classrooms, their daily contributions remain essential to student success across our division. In this period of labour action, their willingness to step into new roles – including in schools - and provide necessary support reflects the strong sense of dedication that exists across our Division, ensuring that learning continues despite these challenges.

The Board recognizes that Foothills School Division is currently in a difficult situation. While we respect and uphold the legal right of support staff to take job action, we also have a responsibility to ensure that students continue to have access to learning. Without the in-person support of CUPE staff and without additional resources from the government, we have had to adapt our operations to continue supporting students. The Division continues to assess staffing needs, hire qualified personnel, and provide as much support as possible to maintain the safety and well-being of our students.

To support both operational needs and staff well-being, the Board of Trustees recently approved an adjustment to the 2024-2025 instructional calendar. This change provides greater flexibility in managing staffing and instructional time, particularly as teachers have contractual limits on their assigned time. With over 30 guest teachers redeployed into new roles, schools need the ability to adjust schedules to ensure continuity of learning. Shifting these days also allows for professional learning that supports student instruction while giving staff time to navigate this complex situation. Additionally, it helps create a more balanced distribution of full and partial weeks across the remainder of the school year. We recognize this adjustment may have impacted families and to express our appreciation for your understanding as we work to ensure a stable and supportive learning environment for both students and staff.

We value the work of all employees throughout the system and look forward to welcoming back the team members who are currently engaged in labour action. As we move through this period, we must also look ahead to what comes next. When this is over, we will all return to the same schools, the same hallways, and the same shared commitment to student success. The actions we take now—how we treat each other, how we navigate disagreements, and how we show respect for the roles we all play—will shape what that future looks and feels like. 

Each and every one of us has a role in upholding the values of respect, collaboration, and community.

The Board is proud of our school division; proud that Foothills School Division remains committed to ensuring that every learner has access to education in an environment that prioritizes both safety and learning continuity, and we invite our community to join us in fostering respect and collaboration as we move forward together. 

Yours in learning, 

Foothills School Division
Board of Trustees