BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
HELD WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2004
AT 7:40 P.M. FOLLOWING THE INAUGURAL MEETING
SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
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
J. Hickling, Director of Maintenance
D. Adey, Executive Secretary
D. Burgoyne, District Principal
S. Johnston, Principal, Carmi Elementary
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Denesiuk welcomed those in attendance and thanked trustees for their support. Ms.
Denesiuk also acknowledged and thanked all school district employees and members of the
district and school parent advisory councils for their contributions and efforts towards student
achievement.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Little/Van Alphen that the agenda and addendum be approved.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Shunter/Lindstrom that the minutes of the regular meeting held on November 8,
2004 be approved.
CARRIED
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
6.0
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The secretary-treasurer reported on the closed meeting held on November 8, 2004:
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7.
8.
9.
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received correspondence regarding a personnel matter;
received reports from the finance and management committee and discipline committee;
approved a personnel item;
approved teaching, excluded, and CUPE staff changes;
approved two teacher leave requests;
reviewed a request for support for a conference;
received information regarding student suspensions;
received information regarding a critical incident;
received information related to BCPSEA and BCSTA meetings, and a meeting of the
Okanagan Labour Relations Council.
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Letter from Parents
A letter from Sarah Broder and Chris Toneff supporting the idea of early French
immersion.
7.2
Letter from Michael Brooke
A letter from Michael Brooke regarding his experience with an early French immersion
program.
7.3
Letter from Scott and Brenda Downey
A letter of support for the early French immersion program from Scott and Brenda
Downey.
7.4
Letter from School District No. 42 (Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows)
A letter forwarded by School District No. 42 (Maple Ridge – Pitt Meadows) regarding
recent media coverage which focussed on alternate service delivery.
7.5
Letter from the Coalition for Public Education
A letter from the Coalition for Public Education requesting the opportunity to make a
presentation to the Board regarding Opening Doors for Every Student, a campaign aimed
at improving educational opportunities for BC’s young people.
7.6
Copy of Letter to Minister of Education
A copy of a letter forwarded by School District No. 57 (Prince George) to the Minister of
Education regarding education funding and requesting that additional funding towards
education become a priority for the 2005-06 school year.
7.7
Copy of Letter to Shaw Cable
A copy of a letter forwarded by School District No. 78 (Fraser-Cascade) to Shaw Cable
regarding the discontinuation of the airing of public school board meetings by Shaw
Cable.
7.8
Copy of Letter to British Columbia School Trustees Association
A copy of a letter forwarded by School District No. 54 (Bulkley Valley) to BCSTA
encouraging the board of directors of BCSTA to meet with the board of directors of
BCPSEA to clarify the respective role of each organization.
7.9
Copy of Letter to Minister of Education
A copy of a letter forwarded by School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of
Education regarding funding, in a more inclusive manner, to support all-day kindergarten.
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
7.10
Letter from Parents
A letter from Charlotte and Murali Venkataraman offering support for the proposed early
French immersion program.
7.11
Letter from Barbara Lundell
A letter of support from Barbara Lundell for the early French immersion program.
7.12
Letter from Donald McKenzie
A letter forwarded by Donald McKenzie in support of the proposed early French
immersion program.
7.13
Letter from Okanagan Nation Alliance
A letter from Chief Stewart Phillip, Okanagan Nation Alliance, requesting attendance at a
meeting to be held on December 21, 2004 to support the Okanagan Nation General
Assembly against Drug Dealers and the Drug Trade in the Okanagan Nation Territory.
MOTION:
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Shunter/Manning that the correspondence be received and that the letters
regarding French immersion be forwarded to the education committee.
CARRIED
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Curriculum Development Advisory Committee
Trustee Little provided information regarding the curriculum development advisory
committee meeting held on December 2, 2004:
a.
Selection of Chairperson
It was noted that Director of Instruction Garth Schafer was elected as chairperson.
b.
Board Authorized/Approved Course Proposals
Proposed board authorized/approved courses for secondary students were
reviewed and recommended for approval by the Board.
MOTION:
Little/Van Alphen that Board approval be given for School District No.
67 to offer the following courses to students at Penticton Secondary,
Summerland Secondary, and Princess Margaret Secondary schools:
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Adventure Tourism 11
Animation 11A
Animation 11B
Animation and Game Creation 11
Textile Arts and Crafts 11
Textiles Tailoring 12
Grades 10, 11, and 12 ESL
Peer Counselling 10, 11, 12
Peer Tutor 10, 11, 12
Pottery 11
Yearbook 10, 11, 12
Leadership 11
Classic Animation 11
Computer Certificates 11
Female Fitness 11
Film and TV 10
Outdoor Recreation 11
Photography and Digital Media 11
Photography 11
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Page 4
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Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
Psychology 12
Recreation Leadership 11
Self Defence 11
Strength and Conditioning 11
SuperFit 11
Walk Fitness 11
Weight Training 11
CARRIED
MOTION:
8.2
Little/Lindstrom that the report of the curriculum development
advisory committee be received.
CARRIED
Education Committee
Trustee Shunter reported on the education committee meetings held on November 29
and December 8, 2004:
November 29:
a.
School Choice Finder
Superintendent Doi informed the Board of a Ministry of Education initiative called
“School Choice Finder”. It is the Ministry’s intention that a brief description of each
school in the province, on the Ministry website, would assist parents in accessing
some preliminary information about each school.
b.
Masters Research Proposal
Teacher Carolyn Buzikievich, Uplands Elementary, requested permission to
conduct a parent survey and student assessment for an action research project for
her Masters degree program.
MOTION:
Shunter/Lindstrom that the Board approve the Masters degree
program proposal of Carolyn Buzikievich to conduct a parent survey
and student assessment for an action research project.
CARRIED
c.
Ministry Literacy Innovation Grant
Superintendent Doi distributed a Literacy Innovation Grant proposal for SD67 that
will be submitted to the Ministry for a funding request of $67,000. The proposal
outlines four projects in literacy and one project in numeracy.
d.
Early French Immersion Proposal
Assistant Superintendent Stigant provided an overview of the feasibility study for
an Early French Immersion (EFI) program in SD67. The committee discussed
various models of implementing EFI and its implications. In addition, a proposal
was presented for offering Late French Immersion (LFI) in the Summerland zone.
MOTION:
Shunter/Lindstrom that the report of the education committee be received.
CARRIED
December 8:
a.
Early French Immersion Proposal
An analysis was provided comparing the educational, financial and operational
implications of the EFI options. It was agreed that a motion would be drafted in
order for the Board to debate and decide this matter at the board meeting on
December 15.
MOTION:
Shunter/Little that the report of the education committee be received.
CARRIED
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
8.3
Page 5
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
Trustee Jamieson reported on the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation
committee meeting held on December 1, 2004:
a.
Transportation Update
Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Shongrunden reported on a number of
transportation issues associated with the start-up of this school year. These
included:
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One of the two buses servicing Eastside Road is full and a few students
were advised to take the earlier bus. It was also noted the later bus will no
longer stop at KVR Middle School.
For the 2003-04 year, the elementary school attendance area for students
was moved to Wiltse Elementary. On a transitional basis, the bus was
maintained to Carmi Elementary. It was recommended this service end
after June 2005. Only one student currently uses this bus.
The bus serving Skaha Estates is used to the extent that courtesy riders
boarding at Yorkton Avenue have been advised that pick up will stop.
The buses serving the Nkwala area average 42 students to Uplands
Elementary and 32 students to Columbia Elementary.
A request to add a bus stop on a Summerland route was addressed by
having senior students take a later bus.
The committee was also advised that changes will be required at Penticton
Secondary for construction as the current loading and unloading area will be in the
construction zone. Other issues to be examined include if there remains a reason
for most bus routes to include travelling to Penticton Secondary now that Princess
Margaret Secondary enrols to grade 12.
b.
Penticton Academy of Music
The letter received at the November 8th school board meeting will be brought
forward to the next building and grounds meeting.
c.
PSS Update
The committee was advised a report is being prepared to address the Ministry of
Education feasibility phase 1 requirements. It is expected the final draft will be
finished by Friday. The committee was also informed the work for feasibility phase
2 is being planned to try to complete this phase quickly. The secretary-treasurer
also recommended that a design planning committee be established for the
planning consisting of:
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MOTION:
Representative of the Board (1)
Representative of the Principals and Vice Principals (1)
Representative of OSTU (1)
Representative of CUPE (1)
Representative of PAC (1)
Representative of the students (1)
Director of Maintenance (1)
Secretary-Treasurer (1)
Superintendent of Schools (1)
Jamieson/Little that the report of the buildings, grounds, safety and
transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
8.4
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee Little reported on the finance and management committee meeting held on
December 8, 2004:
a.
LINK – Breakfast/Lunch Pilot Program
Assistant Superintendent Stigant reviewed the pilot meal program established at
Columbia Elementary, McNicoll Park Middle, Skaha Lake Middle, Parkway
Elementary and Carmi Elementary schools. Sandwiches and a breakfast snack for
SD67 students are made in the Queen’s Park kitchen and delivered to the schools
each day.
b.
Injury Early Intervention Program
Mr. Stigant reviewed a program being developed which is designed to obtain
prompt assessment and early treatment when employees are injured.
c.
Post Offer/Pre-placement Physical Testing – Custodians
Custodial work can be physically demanding which may lead to injury. The
assistant superintendent described a program the district is developing to analyze
and measure the job demands and will confirm that job candidates are physically
capable of meeting these demands.
d.
Grade 10 Exams
Mr. Stigant reported to the committee that teachers have been advised by their
union to object to marking the grade 10 exams. It is expected the exams will be
marked as required.
e.
Vending Machine Contracts
The secretary-treasurer advised committee members that the purchasing
department had requested and received proposals for providing vending machines
to Skaha Lake Middle and Summerland Middle schools. The contracts allow the
school district to determine what type of food is sold and the vendor has been
advised of the expectation that school districts are moving toward healthier food
choices in schools. Following discussion of a number of issues regarding healthy
foods, it was recognized the topic will be reviewed in a policy meeting.
MOTION:
9.0
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Little/Jamieson that the report of the finance and management committee
be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Penticton Secondary School Reconstruction
As a follow-up to information provided in the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation
committee report, the secretary-treasurer advised that Phase 1 of the feasibility study has
been completed and forwarded to the Ministry of Education. This report will be reviewed
by Ministry staff and we hope to receive Ministry approval of the project and funding
within the next two to three weeks. Phase 2 will include design work of the facility, site
suitability testing, and costing in order to prepare for tenders for the project.
9.2
Financial Report
Mr. Regehr reviewed the financial report to November 30, 2004 which was provided in
the agenda package. The report is consistent with expenditures for three teaching
months and it appears the district is headed towards a balanced budget.
MOTION:
Jamieson/Van Alphen that the financial report be received.
CARRIED
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9.3
10.0
Page 7
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
2004-05 Final Budget
The secretary-treasurer reviewed information on the funding recalculation provided by the
Ministry of Education noting our funding was adjusted by an additional $920,000. This
results from an increase of 89 students from the projected student decline of 145
students, an increase of $286,000 for special education programs, and an increase in
targeted aboriginal funding of $33,000. Due to the a provincial enrolment decline from
last year and the Ministry of Education maintaining the same budget for school districts,
districts received additional funding of $45 per student, which amounted to $286,000.
Our school district had anticipated this provincial decline and had already budgeted to
receive $230,000 of this additional money. Mr. Regehr added staffing increases have
already been allocated for the additional students, special education funding has been
decentralized to the schools, and the remaining non-targeted funds will be included in the
amended budget which will be presented in February.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Student Achievement
a. District Workgroups
Information was provided on a number of activities related to the district’s goals of
literacy, numeracy, and social responsibility. Improvements in literacy for at-risk
students will be reviewed at the next education committee. As a result of numeracy
assessments for grades 3, 5, and 8, teachers are engaging in conversations of what
they need to do in the classrooms, are reviewing resources for K to 5 schools, and
are attending in-service training. Middle school math initiatives allow teachers to
have common resources across grade 8 and secondary teachers have created and
continue to use a math folder to share resources across the schools. Mr. Stigant
added the social responsibility workgroup has reviewed surveys completed with
students and has developed some follow-up work regarding the results. The Roots
of Empathy program is operating in four classes at McNicoll Park Middle School,
some interest has been shown towards the Assets for Youth initiative and training for
teachers to use Lions Quest materials, and a number of workshops are being
developed for effective behaviour support staff.
b. School Completion Results and Grad Rates
Superintendent Doi presented an overview of the district’s results in school
completion and graduation rates. Over the past five years, there has been a 12%
increase in School District 67’s completion rates and a 26% increase in completion
rates for aboriginal students compared to a provincial increase of 5% and 8%
respectively. Mr. Doi added the graduation rate for male and female students in
SD67 was the same in the past year compared to a higher graduation rate for female
students in previous years.
10.2
Communication and Access
a. Field Trips
The superintendent of schools reviewed a listing of field trip requests.
MOTION:
Jamieson/Van Alphen that the following field trip requests be approved
for funding as per board policy:
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November 19 to 20, 2004, for 14 students from Penticton
Secondary School to travel to Vancouver to compete in
provincial swim competitions; and
November 7 to 10, 2004, for 16 senior girls from Penticton
Secondary school to compete in field hockey provincial
championships in Burnaby.
CARRIED
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MOTION:
Page 8
Little/Van Alphen that the following field trip request be approved in
principle:
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10.3
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
July 3 to 15, 2005, for six grade 11 and 12 students from
Princess Margaret and Penticton Secondary schools to travel to
Rome, Athens, and the Greek Isles.
CARRIED
Other Items
a. Early French Immersion
Assistant Superintendent Stigant provided an overview of the Early French
Immersion feasibility study received by the Board at the November meeting,
information regarding meetings with parents on November 16 and 17, and a
comparison of educational, financial and operational implications related to three
different models of implementing the program. Following discussion,
MOTION:
Shunter/Lindstrom that approval in principle be given:
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That two Early French Immersion (EFI) kindergarten classes be
offered at one location in the 2005-06 school year;
That the EFI program (as it proceeds from kindergarten to
secondary) be housed in various schools: Queen’s Park
Elementary for kindergarten to grade 3, Carmi Elementary for
grades 4 and 5, McNicoll Park Middle for grades 6 to 8, and
Princess Margaret Secondary for grades 9 to 12;
That the registration for the Early French Immersion kindergarten
be completed in the first week of February (Tuesday, February 1,
to Friday, February 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon and 1:00
p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the board office);
That final approval regarding Early French Immersion be
considered at the February 14, 2005 board meeting; and
That, if the EFI program is approved by the Board, the two lead
classes be selected in March by a lottery of the EFI registrants.
CARRIED
Trustees Jamieson and Manning requested that their negative vote be recorded.
MOTION:
Jamieson/Shunter that approval in principle be given:
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That Late French Immersion (LFI) be offered in the Summerland
zone provided that there is sufficient enrolment for a grade 6 LFI
class in Summerland Middle School for September 2005.
CARRIED
It was noted that procedures for registration for Late French Immersion will be
presented at the January meeting.
b. Enrolment
The assistant superintendent reported that enrolment as of November 30, 2004 was
down by 10 students. There are currently 7,459 students or 7,137.1 FTE in the
district.
c. Independent Schools’ Enrolment
For information only, a listing of student enrolment in independent schools located
within the boundaries of this school district was reviewed. There are currently 395
students enrolled in these independent schools.
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Page 9
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1
BCSTA Trustees Academy
Trustees are reminded to bring their reports of their attendance at the BCSTA Trustees
Academy held in Vancouver on December 2 to 5, 2004 for inclusion in the trustee reading
file.
13.2
Date of Next Meeting
• January 10, 2005, Regular Meeting, School Board Office
13.3
BCSTA Provincial Council Meeting
The BCSTA Provincial Council meeting will be held on February 11 and 12, 2005 in
Vancouver. It was noted that agenda items must be received by January 11, 2005.
13.4
BCSTA AGM 2005
The deadline for submission of motions for BCSTA’s Annual General Meeting to be held
March 31 to April 3, 2005 is as follows:
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14.0
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
Extraordinary motions – January 20, 2005
Substantive motions – January 31, 2005
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
14.1
Trustee Comments
Trustees provided general comments related to district activities and extended
congratulations to students and staff for their display of seasonal spirit in recent
performances.
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 Summerland Middle School were recognized for their artwork currently on
display at the school board office:
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Jordan Conti
Kyle Morrison
Karissa Broomfield
Kimberly Galbraith
Syd Kemp
Alana Parker
Chanel Chartrand
Jacqueline Guest
Andrew Hughes
Kyra Wittkopf
Grade 6
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 7
Grade 7
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 8
Grade 8
Grade 8
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15.0
Page 10
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – December 15, 2004
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION: Manning/Little that the meeting be adjourned at 9:12 p.m.
CARRIED
16.0
QUESTION PERIOD
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
December 21, 2004
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