Local elections can have far-reaching results.
Albertans vote for their school board trustees as part of the general municipal elections on Oct. 16. Ballots will be cast on Election Day for the Palliser Regional Schools Board of Trustees position in two of six wards.
Alberta has 61 public, Catholic and francophone school boards with a total of more than 400 trustees. These locally-elected officials make important decisions about how to educate close to 600,000 students from kindergarten to Grade 12, according to the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA), and guide the expenditure of $6 billion in provincial tax dollars.
School board trustees are local politicians elected by and accountable to the community they serve. The provincial government delegates to school boards the responsibility for conducting the affairs of the school jurisdiction. School boards have numerous responsibilities, says the ASBA, including, but not limited to:
- setting school jurisdiction goals that ensure students have the knowledge and skills that enable them to be better prepared for life
- planning school division priorities based on provincial curriculum requirements, community input, available resources and best practices in education
- developing and implementing an annual budget for the school division based on curriculum requirements and strategic priorities.
Elections for Palliser Regional Schools Board of Trustees will take place in Ward 1, Subdivision 4 (Picture Butte and surrounding area as well as Iron Springs) and Ward 2, Subdivision 1 (Vulcan County east of Highways 23/24 including Milo, Arrowwood and Champion.
In Ward 1, Subdivision 4, the advance poll for residents of Lethbridge County will be held from 2-8 p.m. on Oct. 5 at the Lethbridge County Office (#100, 905 4 Ave. S., Lethbridge). Town of Picture Butte residents can vote in advance from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 12 at Piyami Lodge (300 Rogers Ave., Picture Butte).
Any resident of Ward 2, Subdivision 1 can cast their ballot – advance voting only – at either polling station set up in the area. An advance poll will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 4 at the Village of Milo office (200 Centre St., Milo). Another will be held from 7-9 p.m. on Oct. 6 at the Village of Arrowwood office (1 Centre St., Arrowwood).
Palliser Regional Schools will post updates on the division website regarding polling station locations on Election Day and other related matters as it becomes available
You are eligible to vote in a public or separate school division or district election if, on election day, you:
- are at least 18 years old;
- are a Canadian citizen;
- have lived in Alberta for at least six consecutive months immediately preceding election day;
- live within the boundaries of the local jurisdiction on election day.
The decisions made by elected school officials will help shape tomorrow’s leaders in your community and beyond.
Education is everyone’s business. Vote on Oct. 16.