How a commitment to security, efficiency, and flexibility enables student-centered innovation in southwestern Alberta.
We needed a partner who understood that our communities have unique needs. Sparkrock worked with us to make sure the technology supported, not blocked, what we were trying to do for kids. That’s what made it successful.
Livingstone Range School Division (LRSD) serves a vast, diverse region in southwestern Alberta, connecting over 20 small, rural communities and their surrounding areas. With thousands of students spread across this wide geography, LRSD is dedicated to its mission of “Every Student, Every Day.”
Innovation is a hallmark of LRSD’s approach. From outdoor experiential learning at PEAKS Campus to dual-credit college courses and tailored supports for students with complex needs, the division prioritizes flexibility and personalized learning.
LRSD’s rural setting brings unique operational challenges: fluctuating enrollment in some communities, limited administrative staff, and the need to stretch budgets without sacrificing student experience.
“We couldn’t have every school acting as its own little hub with separate software,” explained Chad Kuzyk. “We needed one center of truth that allowed us to be secure and efficient while still being flexible enough to support really innovative programming.”
Balancing student privacy, budget pressures, and the flexibility to deliver enriching programs demanded more than patchwork solutions. LRSD needed a system that would enable their educational vision rather than constrain it.
“We had to do more with less,” said Kuzyk. “We needed to protect student data, meet budget pressures, and still deliver enriching experiences. Technology should enable that—not be a barrier.”
LRSD selected Sparkrock to replace its fragmented systems with a single, integrated solution for finance, HR, payroll, and student information.
Chad described the decision as essential for balancing operational security with the flexibility to support innovative learning models.
“Our goal was to have one system that could serve as our source of truth,” said Kuzyk. “We needed something secure and efficient, but also flexible enough to let our schools be creative and meet students where they are.”
The priority wasn’t just technology for technology’s sake—it was enabling student-centered learning:
This approach gave LRSD the freedom to focus on what matters: delivering high-quality education tailored to the needs of every student.
Centralizing systems improved data integrity, streamlined processes, and ensured strong security across all schools.
“Security was critical,” said Kuzyk. “We could maintain strong, consistent controls while supporting local innovation. It gave us confidence that student data was protected.”
This foundation meant families and staff could trust the system, knowing student information was safe and accessible when needed.
For school staff, the transition to the new system was smooth, intuitive, and practical.
“They found it easier to do attendance, communicate marks, and use the parent portal,” Kuzyk shared. “It let them focus on students instead of wrestling with systems.”
Teachers could spend more time supporting students individually, whether helping a Grade 12 student finish dual-credit college coursework, or ensuring attendance was accurately tracked even at the ski academy or PEAKS outdoor campus.
PEAKS Campus, LRSD’s outdoor experiential learning center, offers students hands-on opportunities in nature-based education. Staff needed a system flexible enough to capture attendance and learning data outside traditional classrooms.
Meanwhile, central office and IT teams saw major efficiency gains without adding staff or cost. The result? More resources could go directly toward student learning.
LRSD’s commitment to innovative learning demanded systems that could adapt—from recording attendance at outdoor academies to managing dual-credit schedules.
“We could customize how we recorded information and supported special programming,” Kuzyk explained. “That flexibility meant we could deliver learning experiences tailored to student needs instead of being boxed in by software.”
For students in small rural schools, this flexibility was essential. It allowed them to access programs that might otherwise be unavailable, from work placements to specialized courses, without compromising accountability or data security. +
Change management was central to LRSD’s success. The school division built understanding and trust, so staff saw the purpose of the new systems and felt supported throughout the transition.
“It starts with relationships and trust,” said Kuzyk. “We wanted to make sure technology didn’t get in the way of great learning for kids.”
By prioritizing partnership over transactions, LRSD ensured its technology choices aligned with its mission: Every Student, Every Day. The result is a system that supports educators in delivering personalized, high-quality education to all students—no matter where they live.
With Sparkrock, you'll have the tools to manage your finances and workforce more efficiently so you can focus on what you do best. Go from paper-based processes to intelligent cloud-managed workflows, and access the data you need to make a real difference in your school community.