BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2004, AT 7:30 P.M.
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
C. Denesiuk, Chair
D. E. Jamieson, Vice Chair
K. Lindstrom, Trustee
L. Little, Trustee
G. Manning, Trustee
D. Shunter, Trustee
L. Van Alphen, Trustee
G. Doi, Superintendent of Schools
F. Regehr, Secretary-Treasurer
D. Stigant, Assistant Superintendent
R. Shongrunden, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
G. Schafer, Director of Instruction
D. Adey, Executive Secretary
D. Burgoyne, District Principal
B. Bidlake, Principal, Summerland Secondary School
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Denesiuk welcomed district staff, guests, and representatives of the media.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Jamieson that the agenda be approved.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
Fire Prevention Week
Liz Wilson, Operations Assistant, Penticton Fire Department, accompanied by their
mascot Sparky, outlined the fire safety message and program that they will be delivering
to Penticton elementary schools during Fire Prevention Week of October 3 to 9, 2004. It
was noted that 30% of home smoke alarms do not work and an important message with
the school visits is to remind all citizens to test your smoke alarms.
3.2
Summerland Secondary’s Annual Geography 12 Mount St. Helens Field Trip
Summerland Secondary students Kelly Toots and Charlynne Guay and their teacher,
Tom Brickenden, presented pictures and highlights of their annual Geography 12 field trip
to Mount St. Helens. Fourteen students participated in the four-day field trip through
Washington State stopping at Dry Falls Dam, Mount Rainier, and Mount St. Helen's, from
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Page 2
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – October 4, 2004
September 22 to 26. Seven hundred earthquakes were recorded while they were hiking
at Mount St. Helen's although the students and teacher did not realize any activity was
occurring until they returned to the presentation centre.
3.3
Parkway School Literacy Committee
Principal Ian Graham and Parkway teachers Diane Morgan and Esther Skrypiczajko
described some of the literacy programs that are currently being implemented at the
school to improve student achievement in reading, reviewed assessment and evaluation
tools used by teachers in their literacy program, and outlined school goals and how
committees are structured to work towards the school goals.
Chairman Denesiuk extended appreciation to all presenters for their presentations at the
meeting.
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Little/Van Alphen that the minutes of the regular meeting held on September 13,
2004 be approved.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The secretary-treasurer reported on the closed meeting held on September 13, 2004:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
7.0
received a report from the finance and management committee;
approved teaching, excluded, and CUPE staff changes;
received information regarding an upcoming meeting;
received information related to personnel;
received information regarding student suspensions.
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Copy of Letter to Provincial Revenue Minister
A copy of a letter forwarded by Greater Victoria School District to Provincial Revenue
Minister Rick Thorpe suggesting a simplified provincial sales tax rebate process related
to PAC-funded purchases for schools.
MOTION:
Shunter/Lindstrom that the correspondence be received.
CARRIED
8.0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee Little reported on the finance and management committee meeting held on
September 22, 2004:
a.
Field Trip Request
Superintendent Doi reviewed a request from Penticton Secondary School for board
support for travel to a field hockey tournament in Calgary. Following discussion,
MOTION:
Little/Jamieson that the Board approve the field trip from September
29 to October 1, 2004.
CARRIED
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MOTION:
8.2
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – October 4, 2004
Little/Van Alphen that the report of the finance and management committee
be received.
CARRIED
Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
Trustee Jamieson reported on the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation
committee meeting held on September 22, 2004:
a.
Roofing Tender
The committee was advised a tender from Interior Roofing of $165,530 was the low
tender for re-roofing at Uplands, Naramata, and Giant’s Head Elementary schools.
The bid was within estimate and will be funded from the annual capital allowance
budget.
b.
School Transportation
The assistant secretary-treasurer reviewed busing issues for students originating
from Skaha Estates/Lakeview Highlands and from the Nkwala community. Mr.
Shongrunden advised loading capacities were under review on some runs.
c.
Vendor Request
The school district has reviewed a request to locate a food vendor stand at the
front entrance of Summerland Secondary School. The vendor has been advised
this would not be approved.
d.
Capital Building Program
The development of the capital building program is in progress. The committee
was advised a new Summerland elementary school recommended in previous
years will be considered as a project and planning for the future replacement of
Carmi Elementary will be proposed.
e.
Pen Hi Hallowe’en Project
Each year the Penticton Secondary School drama classes have coordinated a
Hallowe’en event for the community. This year they are considering an event to be
held in the school building. The committee agreed that the superintendent
communicate that the Board does not support the project in its entirety.
f.
PSS Planning
The secretary-treasurer reviewed documents related to the planning of Options A
and C for reconstruction. The committee discussed a number of issues including
the ability to retain the auditorium, transition challenges during construction,
temporary accommodation, and planning to determine a single option. The
committee supported that meetings be arranged to prepare for a selection of the
options at the November 8th school board meeting.
MOTION:
8.3
Page 3
Jamieson/Van Alphen that the report of the buildings, grounds, safety and
transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
Education Committee
Trustee Shunter reported on the education committee meeting held on September 28,
2004:
a.
Building Instructional Capacity
Vice Principal Katie Hicks of Skaha Lake Middle School and Superintendent Doi
presented an update of the Building Instructional Capacity Project and the
important role it plays in the school’s and district’s efforts to improve student
achievement.
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Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – October 4, 2004
b.
Masters Research Proposals
Masters project proposals were approved for the following teachers: Jacquie
Newton, KVR Middle; Barb Scatchard, KVR Middle; Angela Martin, Summerland
Middle; Bev Krieger, Giant’s Head Elementary; Kevin Epp, KVR Middle; Betty-Ann
Xenis, Giant’s Head Elementary; and Donna Tracy, Giant’s Head Elementary.
c.
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
A Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives request to survey students (ages 12 to
17) on the recent changes to employment standards was not approved.
d.
Drug Free Zone
Assistant Superintendent Stigant provided an update of the district and community
plan to implement a drug free zone at middle and secondary schools.
e.
Early Literacy Intervention Staffing
Assistant Superintendent Stigant outlined the staffing allocation provided for the
district’s early intervention program for at-risk readers.
f.
Summer Conference Proposal
Superintendent Doi indicated that he was exploring the possibility of hosting a
summer leadership conference in Penticton on August 22 and 23, 2005.
MOTION:
9.0
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Shunter/Manning that the report of the education committee be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Penticton Secondary School Reconstruction Committee
As a follow-up to the report from the building, grounds, safety and transportation
committee meeting, the secretary-treasurer reported that the school district is left with two
options since the City of Penticton announced at a public meeting in late June that the
City would take responsibility for one of either the Ellis or Shatford buildings for their use.
The district has been working with site drawings and cost estimates for two options (to
build a school addition behind the Ellis building or build on the site of the school board
office) to arrive at a single option for presentation to the Ministry of Education. Mr.
Regehr added the Penticton Secondary School reconstruction committee will meet on
October 7 and meetings have been arranged with Penticton Secondary students and
PSS and KVR Middle schools’ staff members on October 20. KVR and PSS parent
advisory councils will review the options on October 27 and a public meeting will be held
on November 1. It is hopeful a final selection can be made by the Board at the
November 8 school board meeting. Mr. Regehr added a media release will be made
within the week to confirm the release of documents related to the public meeting location
and time.
9.2
Financial Report
The secretary-treasurer reviewed the financial report to August 31, 2004 provided in the
agenda package.
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Manning that the financial report be received.
CARRIED
9.3
Five-Year Capital Plan
The secretary-treasurer reported that any capital projects for a new school or addition to
an existing one must be supported by the district’s enrolment forecast. A more thorough
review of the enrolment to 2013 does not support either a new elementary school in
Summerland or a long-term plan for the replacement of Carmi Elementary as suggested
in the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation committee meeting. There is surplus
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Page 5
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – October 4, 2004
capacity in the Penticton community and it is expected that by 2006 there will be surplus
capacity in both elementary schools in Summerland.
MOTION:
9.4
10.0
Little/Jamieson that the Board of School Trustees approve the 2005-06
Five Year Capital Plan being submitted without a single project.
CARRIED
Planning and Goal Setting Session
Mr. Regehr reported that arrangements are underway for the planning and goal setting
session scheduled for October 6, 2004, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Penticton Lakeside
Resort. Up to four representatives from each partner group and student representatives
from each secondary school have been invited to attend.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Student Achievement
a.
District Workgroups
i. Literacy workgroup
Superintendent Doi reported groups are gearing up with planning for the
coming year. The literacy workgroup will meet on October 18, at 4:00 p.m., at
Princess Margaret Library.
ii. Numeracy workgroup
Director of Instruction Schafer reported that numeracy workgroups will meet as
follows: Grade 8 – September 28; Grade 3 – September 30; and Grade 5 –
October 6.
iii. Social Responsibility workgroup
Assistant Superintendent Stigant advised the social responsibility workgroup
had met on September 28, at McNicoll Park Middle School, and the Roots of
Empathy program will begin at McNicoll Park Middle School in October 2004.
b.
10.2
10.3
School Planning Council
Mr. Doi reported that school planning councils will meet for a training session for
elementary schools on October 19 and for middle and secondary schools on
October 20. Both sessions will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the Penticton Lakeside Resort
and trustees are encouraged to attend. It was noted that association presidents
will meet to discuss the agenda for the school planning council training sessions on
Tuesday, October 5, at the school board office.
Communication and Access
a.
Wall of Fame
The first recipient of the school district’s “Wall of Fame” alumni for this school year
was announced as Pauline Alakija, a 1993 graduate of Penticton Secondary
School who is now a forensic pathologist. Details of her accomplishments are
available on the district’s website.
b.
Field Trips
The superintendent of schools reviewed a listing of field trip requests which had
been previously approved by the superintendent.
Other Items
a.
Early French Immersion Feasibility Study
Assistant Superintendent Dave Stigant provided an update on the progress related
to an early French Immersion feasibility study noting the two opportunities to meet
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Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – October 4, 2004
with the parents who submitted the brief and that two public meetings will be held
on November 16 and 17. The report will be considered by the Board at the
education committee meeting on November 30 and committee recommendations
will be considered by the Board in the public meeting on December 15, 2004.
b.
Enrolment
The assistant superintendent reviewed student enrolment as of September 30,
2004, which shows enrolment at 7,141.9 FTE, down 38 students from the previous
year. It was noted that enrolment is higher than projected in all areas with the
greatest growth in the middle years and there are currently 311 more students
enrolled in grade 11 than in kindergarten. Mr. Regehr added there are an
additional 47 international and hockey school students in the school district whose
residence is outside of British Columbia. The Ministry of Education will recalculate
2004-05 funding later this fall for all BC school districts.
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
14.0
13.1
BCSTA Okanagan Branch Meeting
Trustees are reminded to submit their reports of their attendance at the BCSTA
Okanagan Branch meeting held in Osoyoos on September 24 and 25, 2004 for inclusion
in the trustee reading file.
13.2
Date of Next Meetings
• November 8, 2004, Regular Meeting, School Board Office
• The December school board meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 15,
2004.
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
14.1
Trustee Comments
Trustees provided general comments related to district activities noting judges are
needed for the October 23 regional debate for approximately 100 to 200 students and the
National Walk to School Day on October 6.
14.2
Recognition of Student Success
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) extended congratulations to the students and
groups for outstanding examples of success as shown on the recognition sheet included
with the agenda package.
14.3
Recognition of Student Artwork
Students from McNicoll Park Middle School were recognized for their artwork currently on
display at the school board office:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Paul Kroes – Grade 6
Larissa Russell – Grade 6
Rachael Felsk – Grade 7
Sarita Wilock – Grade 7
Lauren Nutbrown – Grade 8
Chelsea Terry – Grade 8
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15.0
Page 7
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – October 4, 2004
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Manning/Shunter that the meeting be adjourned at 9:02 p.m.
CARRIED
16.0
QUESTION PERIOD
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
October 12, 2004
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