Educational Governance Advisory Panel Review PUBLIC CONSULTATION SURVEY RESULTS AND FEEDBACK The following are the views and opinions submitted via letters to the consultation email. The comments appear verbatim with only minimal editing of information such as names, phone numbers, email addresses, profanities, defamatory statements, etc. (cid:1005) January 21, 2016 Via Email: [email protected] [email protected] Saskatchewan Ministry of Education Hon. Don Morgan, Minister #2405 Legislative Drive Regina, SK S4S 0B3 Dear Minister Morgan, RE: Educational Governance Review Report My family and I have been residents of Lloydminster, AB since the fall of 2004. We were offered a relocation to Lloydminster in August 2004 from Grande Prairie, AB. With a young family of three children, our oldest son with a my wife and I travelled to Lloydminster to evaluate the move for our family. During that visit we were able to speak with the Deputy Director, Micheal Diachuk, of the Lloydminster Public School Division(LPSD). That visit and the information shared by Micheal on the unique bi-provincial system offered by LPSD was the decision trigger to select Lloydminster as the choice of two relocation options offered at the time. That decision was one of the best decisions we have made. As of June of this year, all three of my children will have graduated from high school in LPSD. My struggled previously as a result of bulling, lack of educational evaluation, resources and overall success from grade K-5 in both BC and Alberta. His story is a success in large part from the systems and supports of LPSD. He is now a working as a lives in Lloydminster, SK and has started a family of his own. My other two children have progressed through LPSD with high academic results. They have and will pressure post secondary education and contribute to future prosperity of the city and province. LPSD is a unique Public School Board being the only bi-provincial operated system in the province. The local Lloydminster Charter supports LPSD to deliver seamless educational services to all student of Lloydminster fairly and equally regardless of which province of Lloydminster they are located in. This success has developed over its 84 year history. My (cid:1006) family is a recipient of its success. I fear changes to LPSD will jeopardize future success for others. My goal in writing to you personally and sending copy to the provincial feedback email, is to ask that you consider this unique situation carefully. LPSD is a district with educational success both with my family personally and is at the top of the scale provincially in the success of its students. There are four options your department is considering. The goal of which have not been clearly communicated. I would like to see a response from you on why these changes are required. I am going to suggest that you consider one of two that I propose: 1. Create an exemption for LPSD to operate “as is” given its bi-provincial status and the 84 years of effort completed to foster the success it has seen. 2. Restructuring the School Divisions to a minimum of 14. Retain LPSD intact and incorporate surrounding SK communities carefully into LPSD. Alternatively, I ask that you consider these changes carefully or seek alternate methods to achieve your desired results. For my perspective over the last 12 years living in Lloydminster, education is one of the cornerstones of success that has brought Saskatchewan the prosperity it current enjoys. Sincerely yours, CC: Premier Brad Wall MLA Colleen Young AB MLA Richard Starke (cid:1007) 4 (cid:1009) (cid:1010) (cid:1011) (cid:1012)