CALL TO ORDER:

Chairperson Smith called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA:

2010:R-021        MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                        AND RESOLVED:

“TO approve the agenda with the following addition: 11.e. District Programs Report.”

ADOPTION OF MINUTES:

2010:R-022        MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                        AND RESOLVED:

“TO adopt the minutes of the Regular Board meeting of February 9, 2010.”

BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:

Nil.

PUBLIC INQUIRIES AND PRESENTATIONS:

a.       Arlene Fehr, Principal, Gold River Secondary School

Mrs. Fehr provided an interesting and informative PowerPoint presentation about life at Gold River Secondary School - “Taking Care of the Whole Student”. 

Mission

·        To become a strong example of rural education.

·        To provide quality education to lead students toward success.

 Vision

·        Meet the educational (all) needs of students for on-going success.

·        Model and encourage a passion for life-long learning.

·        Provide a respectful nurturing and safe place for all students to succeed.

Values

·        Respect: Empathy, Responsibility, Consideration of Others, Integrity, Work Ethic, Environments

·        Supportive Environment

·        Perseverance and Creativity and Humour

·        Participation

·        Make Healthy Choices (Decisions)

·        Challenge Yourself (Embrace Challengers)

·             Staffing has been in pencil this year due to leaves, etc., and staff members have tried their best to reduce the impact on student learning.  Special appreciation was expressed to some of the very dedicated Teachers On Call in Gold River. 

·             The new school sign welcomes everyone in two languages: kli ya how ut and welcome.  The Code of Conduct is reviewed annually, based on the word “Respect”, which is one of the seven sacred teachings. Student learning is first at Gold River Secondary.  The mission/vision/values have been developed and the school letterhead now reflects this process.  The last step is to take it to the students for final input.

·             The School Planning Council is currently working on the 2009-10 School Growth Plan.  There are two student members actively involved and are responsible for the annual Anti-Bullying survey.

·             A continual landscaping of grounds and updating of the school physical plant is part of the Social Responsibility school goal, and students are commenting on the new colours in the hallway.

·             Student programs are always being evaluated to meet the needs of students.

·             Work is underway on next year’s timetable which will include music for all grades, possibly Outdoor Education and other electives based on student feedback by the end of March, using BCeSIS Student Assistant to make their course selections for 2010-2011.

·             The Nootka Discovery School (NDS) is evolving, which is a fluid program designed to meet the needs of students who are integrated into the regular timetable as needed during the year.  A cooking program has been added this year, the results (especially the pizza!) of which are enjoyed by all.

·             The Transition Program has been successful for students who are below grade level but can achieve a Dogwood diploma.

·             There are 32 students taking a total of 43 Distributed Learning courses, with the help of a teacher who monitors and paces the students’ completion of courses. 

·             The Student Leadership Group (SLG) met in the Board Office in October to plan the entire year and then meet again the week before each activity to do final planning. 

·             The new whiteboards with Mimio and tablets and the two smart boards are being enjoyed by all.

·             The Espirit Team is going to Ottawa in May, and six students have attended the “Encounters with Canada” Program in Ottawa.

·             Gold River Secondary will be hosting the District Basketball Jamboree this year and, between games, students will be treated to a movie night in the gym on the large screen, pancake breakfast, and a barbeque lunch.

·             Staff and students enjoy the ArtStarts performances that are provided by the District.

·             Last but not least, the PAC has a full executive and will be organizing another Flea Market this year (May 1 and 2) to raise funds to purchase lighting for the gym.  Thanks to last year’s PAC-sponsored Flea Market, equipment was purchased for the shop and music programs. 

CORRESPONDENCE:

2010:R-023        MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                        AND RESOLVED:

                        “TO receive and file the correspondence.”

REPORT OF THE CLOSED MEETING:

Chairperson Smith reported on the following:  the Children’s Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Children and Family Development, Vancouver Island Health Authority and Vancouver Island School Districts which was signed five years ago, will be signed again at the upcoming BC School Trustees’ Association AGM; a very welcome visit from the Superintendent of Achievement provided the District with some interesting data; and, the upcoming year’s enrollment-based funding will be approximately $6,770,302.    

The Superintendent of Schools/Secretary-Treasurer reported that the Superintendent of Achievement was pleased with SD84’s progress.  There are two such Superintendents whose mandate is to ensure that all districts in the Province are working towards improving student achievement.  Mr. Allen went away satisfied, noting that SD84’s graduation rates are average when compared to comparable districts, with a 67.8% six-year graduation rate.  The Superintendent of Achievement spoke positively about SD84’s areas of success.    

TRUSTEE REPORTS:

a.       School Reports

Trustee Hanson reported on the following highlights from Kyuquot School:

·             “Hearts for Haiti”, steered by Ms. Coccolla, raised just over $2010 as a result of a bake sale, sushi sale (over $600 in one hour!), homemade donut sale, family fun night, and a movie night. 

·             There will be three graduates this year and fundraising is well underway for the ceremony which will be held on June 19, 2010.

·             Mr. Daniel Blackstone provided a workshop for junior and senior students on Career Building and Employment Skills which was enjoyed and appreciated by the students.

·             Eight KESS reps were invited to Captain Meares School to share ideas and discuss the upcoming potlatch. 

·             The elementary classes enjoyed a sleepover at the school, playing games, watching a movie and having homemade pizza.

·             Ms. Toth’s father, who is a Chemical Engineer/Scientist, recently visited the school and offered a $100 prize to the student(s) who create a Perpetual Motion Machine.

·             Earthquake and fire drills have successfully taken place, and a lock-down drill will be held in the near future.

·             Four new students have joined the Primary class, which is now up to 18 students.

·             Spirit Week was enjoyed by all, with activities including Crazy Hat/Hair Day, Blast from the Past Dress-Up Day, Twin Day, Math Day, Dress in House Team Colour Day, and many lunchtime activities – all of which earned points towards house teams. 

·             First Nation Day is March 19 to include breakfast, various culture activities, craft making (all crafts towards the June potlatch), and a traditional lunch. 

·             The Intermediate class will be starting a digital sharing project with the Tahltan Youth Nation in the Stikine-Dease Lake area.  Students will be sharing information back and forth on topics such as culture, housing, economics, etc. 

·             At the last staff meeting, the Principal acknowledged all of the staff with certificates which stated what he valued from each staff member. 

·             The canoe log is underway!  Elders Alex Short and Kelly John along with some of the local residents have begun the process of preparing the log by stripping the bark and cutting it to size.  It will eventually be transported to the school site so that students can be involved in carving the canoe.   

Chairperson Smith reported the following highlights from Ray Watkins Elementary School:

·             Paint the Town Red – A successful school and community event took place on February 16^th, with the students and staff parading to the Village Square for a program to help all get into the Olympic/Paralympic spirit.

·             Olympic Sports Day on February 17^th was a successful day of modified winter sports activities in the gym, hallways and the arena, with ceremonies that included the anthem and the Olympic oath. 

·             Other events this month included the issuing of report cards, parent/teacher interviews at Tsaxana, an overnight trip to Camp Homewood sponsored by Mrs. Sine for Grades 3-6, a ski trip sponsored by Mr. Cooper, and a visit from Rayna Rumley who is a teacher of the hearing impaired contracted to assess several students and to give some welcomed advice. 

·             On March 19^th, PAC will be sponsoring a “Round Trip to Italy” fundraiser at the Community Centre.

b.         Working Relations Committee Report

Chairperson Smith reported that this Committee met on March 15, 2010 to discuss on an ongoing basis matters related to the teaching staff.  The topics of this meeting included: staffing, budget process, employment equity, discretionary leave, FSA, technology plan, professional development, District assessment framework, VISTA Conference, 2010/2011 school calendar, Union travel requests, Beginning Teachers’ Conference, WorksafeBC inspection reports, and all-day kindergarten.  The discussions were harmonious and productive and the point was made that the teachers were finding the technology plan a bit overwhelming, and appreciation for the VISTA Conference was expressed by the Union President. 

c.         District Policy Review Committee Report

2010:R-024   MOVED: Trustee Hanson, SECONDED: Trustee Johnson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “TO adopt Policy E.18, Sickness and Accidents (Students), as amended.”

2010:R-025   MOVED: Trustee Hanson, SECONDED: Trustee Johnson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “NOTICE OF MOTION to amend Policy E.5, Child Abuse.”

2010:R-026   MOVED: Trustee Hanson, SECONDED: Trustee Johnson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “NOTICE OF MOTION to amend Policy E.11, Inspection of Student Lockers.”

2010:R-027   MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “NOTICE OF MOTION to amend Policy E.14, Police Interrogation of Students.”

2010:R-028   MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “NOTICE OF MOTION to amend Policy E.23, Special Education Services.”

2010:R-029   MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “NOTICE OF MOTION to amend Policy E.32, Admission of International Students.”

A review of the following policies was postponed to next meeting: Policy E.28, Student Safety in the Woods, and Policy B.9, Transportation Assistance.

d.       Provincial Council Report

Chairperson Smith reported on the meeting which took place in Victoria on February 27-28.  The evening session was both a success and a failure.  Deputy Minister Gorman was scheduled to speak and to take questions but did not appear owing to “Olympic obligations”.  Instead, a very interesting session was substituted whose theme was parental involvement in education, and present as guests were executive members of the BCCPAC (BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils).  Trustees had designated tables and each table dealt with a series of questions pertaining to parents and their role in schools.  On the second day, a very informative presentation was given by four members of the Auditor General’s Office which is watchful of school districts’ activities.  The Council then dealt with business matters such as the reports of President Denesuik, the Aboriginal Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Education Committee.  The motions that Chairperson Smith reported on at the last Board meeting were all carried.  Although Deputy Minister Forman’s absence was frustrating, the meeting was productive and the sessions well-worth attending. 

e.         Vancouver Island School Trustees’ Association Conference: “Sustaining Public Education – Values, Vision and Action”

Trustee Hanson reported on this conference that was held on February 27, 2010 in Nanaimo. A portion of the day was spent in group sessions and Trustee Hanson’s group focussed on technology and how it is and can be used in education, and a Courtenay student provided good input into that discussion.  A highlight of the day was an improv by students from one of the Nanaimo schools, which was most enjoyable.   

Chairperson Smith was unable to attend the Conference but attended the VISTA business meeting held the following day.  Both motions from SD84 were endorsed by VISTA and will now be brought forward to the Annual General Meeting in April.  The Chairperson of the BCSTA Aboriginal Committee was particularly pleased with SD84’s motion pertaining to adult education.    

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

a.         District Mission/Vision/Values Process

The Superintendent of Schools/Secretary-Treasurer reported that there is a link on the District’s website (www.sd84.bc.ca) for people to provide their comments on the District’s mission statement. The responses to date were brought forward to the Board, and were over 80% positive, including some interesting comments made by students, staff and community members.  A common response was that the mission statement is too long to remember; however, it is important that it values all input from the communities in terms of community, academics, preparation for the future, etc.  The Board is considering a slogan to accompany the mission which could be incorporated into the District logo; for example, “learning for success”.  The values and goals will then be developed, and it is hoped that the upcoming community consultation meetings will provide more valuable input into this process which will shape the District and its ways of conducting business.  The aim is to complete this project by the end of the school year.   

NEW BUSINESS:

a.       Community Consultations

The Superintendent of Schools/Secretary-Treasurer and the local School Trustee will be holding community consultation meetings to give people an opportunity to provide feedback on the mission/vision/values process as well as on educational issues, and to receive information on the budget process.  The schedule is as follows:

·    Monday, March 22, 7:00-8:30 pm, Captain Meares School;

·    Tuesday, March 23, 7-8:30 pm, Zeballos School;

·    Monday, March 29 – 7-8:30 pm, Kyuquot School;

·    Tuesday, March 30, 7-8:30 pm, School Board Office.

b.       School Calendar 2010/2011

The Superintendent of Schools/Secretary-Treasurer reported that a standard school calendar has been adopted for 2010/2011 and will be distributed to schools to share with staff and parents.  He expressed appreciation to the teachers for their early submission of aligned professional development dates.  The calendar is as follows: 

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS/SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT:

a.         Staffing Update

          The District is fully staffed at this time.    

b.         Finance Warrants

As of February 28, 2010, eight months or 67.0% of the 2009/10 fiscal year, and six months or 60.0% of the school year has elapsed.  The budget amounts shown in this report are the 2009/10 Final Budget amounts based on the September 30, 2009 final enrolment figures.

At the end of June 30, 2009, the District carried forward an Operating surplus of $972,000 of which $608,000 has been allocated, and $364,000 is unallocated or contingency. To the end of February, $2,759,000 (eight months) or 62.5% of the Ministry Operating Grant was received.  On a prorated analysis this Operating Grant is <$185,000> in arrears.  This is due to the Ministry deferral of $300,000 to be forwarded to SD84 in June 2010.

To the end of February, $1,170,000 (LEA) Local Education Agreement funding has been recorded.  On a prorated analysis, the LEA is approximately <$390,000> in arrears.  This will be corrected in the next few months as the September 30 enrolments and Nominal Roles have been confirmed by INAC.

To the end of February, salaries/benefits are trending favourably $234,000 to budget. Substitute salaries are slightly overspent <$22,000> and teachers’ salaries are slightly underspent by $108,000.

To the end of February, service/supplies expenditures are trending favourably $294,000 to budget.  There were no major expenditures made during the first eight months. 

At the end of the 2008/09 fiscal year, there was an AFG (Annual Facilities Grant) surplus of $1,692,000 being brought forward to 2009/10.  At the end of February a surplus balance for AFG is at $1,419,000 and $272,000 of expenditures have been incurred as follows:

·        $13,000 kitchen upgrade GRSS;

·        $10,000 flooring upgrade GRSS;

·        $9,000 paving upgrade GRSS;

·        $20,000 building upgrade GRSS;

·        $8,000 landscaping upgrade at CMESS;

·        $159,000 transfer of maintenance staff salary and benefits from Operating fund.

c.         Enrollment Report

There are currently 467 students in School District 84, for a total of 422.6564 FTE – a slight increase from last month’s total of 420.2814 FTE but a decline from the September 30^th enrollment of 437 FTE.   

d.         Operations Report

The Operations Report provided information on the current maintenance, teacherage, building envelope, and AFG projects.  Many projects were completed during the month, including the Breakfast Program Room at Zeballos School which is now operational. 

The installation of the new white boards went smoothly at Gold River Secondary, which was aided by a schedule being supplied as to the access for workers during operational hours.

Currently an RFP (Request for Proposals) has been posted on BC Bid for the re-cladding of Kyuquot School, to be completed during the summer break.  It is hoped to appoint a Construction Manager in the next month. 

Also taking place currently and ongoing is the installation of a new computer network through the District. To date the School Board Office and Gold River Secondary have been “rough-wired” and the next stop will be Captain Meares, and then probably Zeballos and Kyuquot. Ray Watkins School will be last due to logistical reasons and will happen at the beginning of the summer. Before the end of the school year, a few test sites will be set up for staff and students to try the new Linux operating system, with “Thin Client” technology, before it becomes fully operational by September.

The Superintendent of Schools/Secretary-Treasurer expressed appreciation to the Computer Technician, the Operations Supervisor and the Maintenance Department for their diligence in using Spring Break to do much of the work to date.  All of the monitors and half of the new computers have been received, and the servers are on order, so the project is on schedule to have everything in place by September. 

e.         District Programs Report

Student Support Services

In order to improve the life opportunities of every student, each student must have the resources needed to access the curriculum and learn effectively. To this end, training has taken place for most teaching staff to access ARC-BC. ARC-BC, the Accessible Resource Centre of British Columbia, is an online repository of BC curriculum materials in formats accessible for students with perceptual disabilities. Students with visual, physical, or comprehension difficulties, and the adults who work on their behalf, are eligible for these accessible resources free of charge. Materials in ARC-BC come in a variety of digital formats, including Word documents, Kurzweil 3000 files, and MP3 audio books. By using these resources, many students have a way to access curriculum which otherwise might have been unattainable. For example, a student who cannot read the novel being studied in class might listen to it as an audio book and thus participate in the learning activities for language arts; a student with a visual impairment who cannot see the text in a textbook clearly can enlarge the digital copy of the textbook on a computer. ARC-BC materials make the curriculum more accessible for many students, and allow teachers to search and download these resources without having to create the materials themselves.

We have also recently had the pleasure of having Mr. Paul Hamilton (from SET-BC) present workshops for teachers on the use of Kurzweil 3000, as well as a variety of other free assistive technology programs to support student learning. These computer resources present alternate methods for teachers to present information and for students to show their learning, and can be motivating for struggling learners. Mr. Hamilton is passionate about the power of technology to allow all students to learn, and shared that enthusiasm with staff.  Kurzweil 3000 training has recently taken place at GRSS, ZESS, and KESS, with additional assistive technology sessions and student consultations at ZESS and KESS. Through the use of assistive technology, as well as the resources of ARC-BC, the needs of many struggling learners will be better met.

The District has been pleased to obtain the services of a certified Hearing Resource Teacher. Ms. Rayna Rumley has visited SD84 twice to work with students who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing and the teachers and Special Needs Teacher Assistants who support these students. Ms. Rumley has helped to develop individual support programs, ensure that necessary equipment is in place and functioning, and support the SNTA’s in administering the programs. Staff members have been impressed by the level of service that Ms. Rumley has provided.

Plans are underway for a group of teachers and administrators to attend a workshop on Precision Reading hosted by the Port Alberni School District. Precision Reading is a program designed to increase reading fluency and comprehension; it has proven to be a successful intervention for many struggling readers in Western Canada. Mr. John Levering, teacher at GRSS, has had success using Precision Reading with his students, and we are hoping to learn how this program might benefit more students in the District.

Early Learning

Full-Day Kindergarten - As the School District will be launching full-day Kindergarten in all four communities next September, plans are underway to support teachers in delivering a stimulating full-day Kindergarten experience. The Kindergarten teachers from SD84 will be travelling to North Vancouver School District 44’s full-day Kindergarten workshop. At this event, teachers from SD84 will be able to build connections within our District, learn new ways to engage young children in learning, and meet and learn from Kindergarten teachers around the Province. Teachers will attend a workshop on, and receive a copy of, NVSD 44’s resource Inspirations 44: A full-day Kindergarten resource of play-based activities and instruction. Fully aligned with the goals of the Primary Program and Early Learning Framework, Inspirations 44 provides a rich array of classroom experiences to deepen and extend the learning outcomes for a full-day Kindergarten program. Developing curriculum, language, social and community connections are at the heart of a child’s exploration and practice. The framework is structured to meet the needs of a diverse population of students in a Full Day Kindergarten program. (Source: NVSD 44 Website)

StrongStart - StrongStart is a free early learning program for preschool aged children and their caregivers. Led by a qualified ECE facilitator (Catherine Gordon), activities in the StrongStart include stories, music, art, and play. By accompanying their children at StrongStart, parents and caregivers discover new ways to support their children’s learning at home and make valuable connections to other parents and supporting agencies. StrongStart is open for three hours per day, Mondays and Tuesdays at CMESS, Thursdays and Fridays at ZESS, with Wednesdays alternating between the two locations. Informal reports indicate that StrongStart is having a positive impact on school “readiness,” as students entering Kindergarten from StrongStart are adapting well to the school environment. As the program develops, the focus is on ensuring access to the program for all children in both communities, and aligning the program with the provincial Early Learning Framework.

Zeballos StrongStart recently welcomed a visit from the local health authority. Developmental screenings were completed by members of VIHA’s Early Intervention Team in the hopes that any concerns about individual children can be recognized and addressed as soon as possible. One of the additional benefits of StrongStart is that it provides a point of contact between families and health services.

Early Development Instrument (EDI) - School District 84 once again participated in the Early Development Instrument Survey. This population-based measure of Kindergarten children’s school readiness is part of an ongoing research project by the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the University of British Columbia. Kindergarten teachers completed the surveys in February, and regional results should be available in the spring. The EDI maps children’s vulnerabilities across the domains of language and cognitive development, communication skills, social competence, emotional maturity, and physical health and well-being. Results are not collected for individual students; rather, the data is combined to present a picture of the overall development of children in a community.

Assessment

FSA marking has been completed in the District. A team of markers completed the scoring on a Saturday; the process took approximately six hours (about half of which was training). Scores are now being uploaded to the Ministry website and results will be available for distribution shortly.

BCeSIS

The District is now “live” with BCeSIS, as all schools are now using the BC Enterprise Student Information System. Student demographic information, timetables and programs have been successfully entered into the system. We are now using BCeSIS for Ministry data submissions, including 1701, SADE (Student Achievement Data Exchange), and TRAX. Report cards have now successfully been run at GRSS, RWES, CMESS, and ZESS. Staff members (including administrative assistants, teachers, and principals) seem to be learning the system quickly and are adapting well to the challenges of learning to use a new information system. Training has been completed for teachers to take attendance and enter report card marks and comments. As can be expected with learning any new system, the implementation path has included a learning curve and a few minor bumps on the road. However, most staff members have learned the program quickly, having received individualized training and support. Refresher training sessions will be offered as needed.

Recent activities involving BCeSIS has included the inputting of historical credit details so that student graduation credits can be managed on the system, as well as early preparation for student course selections for the 2010-2011 school year.

TRUSTEE INQUIRIES:

Nil.

PRESS AND PUBLIC INQUIRIES:

Public inquiries addressed the following:

·             full-day kindergarten, which will be funded as full-day students;

·             the teachers’ agreement to align professional development days as a cost-saving measure for the District;

·             the lack of adequate funding for education, and an inquiry about how this District is getting that message out to the public; Chairperson Smith stated that the Board holds public Board meetings and community budget consultation meetings, and also uses The Record newspaper to distribute information; and,     

·             the September 7th, 2010 non-instructional day, which will be a school-based planning day.

NOTICE OF MEETINGS:

The next public meeting of the Board of Education will be held on April 13, 2010, at 7:00 pm, in the School Board Office.  Any requests for inclusion on the agenda should be submitted to the Board Office two weeks prior to the meeting. 

ADJOURNMENT:

At 8:07 pm:

2010:030      MOVED: Trustee Johnson, SECONDED: Trustee Hanson

                   AND RESOLVED:

                   “TO adjourn.”