“Our core values centre on diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility principles,” explains Michalik. “We’re also deeply committed to integrating Indigenous worldviews and perspectives in our work.”This commitment is reflected in the division’s comprehensive Multi-Year Strategic Plan 2023-2027, which maintains four strategic priorities: Belonging, Mastery, Independence, and Generosity. The division’s approach to leadership stands out through its collaborative model. “Co-stewardship with staff is key in building a better future,” Michalik notes. “We don’t go it alone as a senior leadership team or school board of trustees. We create the journey with all staff, in partnership with families, and by nurturing student voice and agency.” Data-informed decision-making drives LRSD’s operations, visible through their extensive Data Hub that provides transparent, up-to-date information through interactive dashboards accessible to the community.“We’ve been hard at work developing our data literacy as a school community, as a workforce,” Michalik shares. “Leveraging this data literacy is essential to know that we’re actually accomplishing what we’ve set out to do.” FULL-DAY, EVERY-DAY KINDERGARTEN Louis Riel School Division’s full-day, every-day kindergarten initiative represents a significant achievement in early childhood education, fulfilling a key strategic goal years ahead of schedule.“Our fullday, every-day kindergarten initiative is absolutely working out,” Michalik states with enthusiasm. “What’s exciting is that we’ve been able to achieve it in the early stages of our multi-year strategic plan. We had given ourselves until 2027, but now we’re focused on sustaining and enhancing the program for the future.” The division is conducting rigorous action research to measure the initiative’s impact, with plans to report findings to the community in June 2025. Early indicators show multiple benefits spanning educational outcomes, family economics, and community well-being. “All I hear is how impactful it’s been on families, staff, and students—with students at the heart of it 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 LOUIS RIEL SCHOOL DIVISION
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