BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, APRIL 11, 2005, AT 7:30 P.M.
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
R. Shongrunden, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer
G. Schafer, Director of Instruction
J. Hickling, Director of Maintenance
D. Burgoyne, District Principal
D. Adey, Executive Secretary
K. Allison, Principal, West Bench Elementary School
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Denesiuk welcomed district staff, guests, and representatives of the media.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Little/Manning that the agenda and addendum be approved.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
Behind the Smokescreen
Teacher Russ Stasiuk and his media students presented their award winning videos that
were recently selected in a BC competition called “Behind the Smokescreen”. Penticton
Secondary School entered eight videos and won four of the top 12 awards in media/film
in the competition. Students also received gold in the Skills Canada competition.
Following a number of questions, the students were congratulated on their powerful and
inspiring films.
3.2
Library Presentations
Linda Brussee, Teacher-Librarian, Carmi Elementary School, provided a brief explanation
of the Red Cedar Program. Students from Kim Robb’s class at Giant’s Head Elementary
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Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – April 11, 2005
School presented their plans for their Red Cedar celebrations to be held on May 20, 2005
which will include skits, posters, games, puzzles and other literacy activities. Students
from West Bench Elementary, accompanied by their teacher Barb Hatton, presented a
Readers’ Theatre selection titled “Digging Deep”.
On behalf of the board, Chairman Denesiuk thanked all students for their presentations.
3.3
UBC Okanagan
Deputy Vice Chancellor Dr. Barry McBride presented an overview of the goals and future
plans for UBC Okanagan. New programs will be added at the university and will be
structured to reflect the needs of this area as identified in a recent survey. The
university’s plans call for 7,500 students by 2010 with the first graduating class in 2006.
3.4
Community Foundation of the South Okanagan
Deborah O’Mara, Executive Director, Community Foundation of the South Okanagan,
provided an overview of grants awarded by the Foundation for projects administered by
the school district including funding for the Asset Building for Youth initiative, the
Penticton Secondary School Haunted House project, the Baby, Think it Over project at all
three secondary schools, and support for the sports court at Queen’s Park. Students in
the district also benefited from the Cyber Proof Your Kids program and helmets provided
to the Brain Injury Society for prevention of head injuries. Ms. O’Mara presented a
cheque to Principal Peter Corcoran in the amount of $6,000 for the Hot Lunch Program
for At-Risk Students at Penticton Secondary School.
Appreciation was extended to Ms. O’Mara for her presentation and for the continued
support the school district receives from the Community Foundation of the South
Okanagan.
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Jamieson/Little that the minutes of the regular meeting held on March 14, 2005 be
approved.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The secretary-treasurer reported on the regular closed meeting held on March 14, 2005:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Received reports from the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation committee and
finance and management committee.
Since the last board meeting, two topics discussed at the finance and management
committee meeting and at the closed board meeting were conflict of interest issues for
Trustees Lindstrom and Shunter. During the discussion of these matters, Trustees
Lindstrom and Shunter withdrew themselves from the meetings.
Approved a contract for architectural services;
Approved personnel matters;
Received a report from the discipline committee;
Approved teaching, excluded, and CUPE staff changes;
Received information related to preparation of the public budget meeting;
Approved a principal/vice principal appointment;
Approved requests for teacher leaves;
Received information related to student suspensions;
Received information regarding an OLRC meeting;
Confirmed procedures for hiring practices for school district administrators; and
Received information regarding personnel.
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
7.0
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Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – April 11, 2005
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Letter from Minister of Education
A letter forwarded by the Minister of Education outlining details for the adoption of the
2005-06 annual operating budget.
7.2
Letter from Auditor General of British Columbia
A letter forwarded by the Office of the Auditor General of British Columbia regarding the
Financial Statement Audit Coverage Plan for the three years from April 1, 2005 to March
31, 2008 and the audit appointment process.
7.3
Community Foundation of the South Okanagan
A letter from the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan inviting two volunteers
from the district to attend a breakfast celebration to honour volunteers during National
Volunteer Week.
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 April
6, 2005:
a.
2005-06 Budget Review
The secretary-treasurer distributed and reviewed information regarding the 200506 budget. This included information regarding provincial grant calculations,
funding analysis, student enrolment trends, and district revenue. Cost increases
faced next year include:
•
•
•
•
•
Teacher increments
Municipal pension
Dental/extended health
Natural gas
Election expense
$165,000
80,000
300,000
20,000
15,000
After providing for cost increases, nearly $1.4 million is available for other
initiatives. Information gathered at a variety of meetings will assist in developing
the final budget.
Trustee Little added that meetings are scheduled with representatives from parent
advisory councils and school planning councils on April 14 and with principals and vice
principals on April 19 and additionally, meetings will be held with employee groups.
Trustees will meet on April 21 to formalize a budget and will share details with partner
groups prior to adoption scheduled for April 25.
MOTION:
8.2
Little/Van Alphen that the report of the finance and management committee
be received.
CARRIED
Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
Trustee Jamieson reported regarding the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation
committee meeting held on April 6, 2005:
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
a.
Jamieson/Van Alphen that the minutes of the buildings, grounds, safety
and transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Penticton Secondary School Planning Committee
The secretary-treasurer provided information on the Penticton Secondary School
planning committee meeting held on March 17, 2005. Work is progressing on a single
design with the current focus being on the relationship of spaces to each other and the
location of each class in the new facility. Mr. Regehr added that all requirements for the
school must fit within the space allowed by the Ministry of Education, costing is expected
by the end of this month, and a series of meetings have been scheduled at the school
with staff regarding design. A plan and model should be available for the next board
meeting. The committee will meet again on April 20.
9.2
Financial Report
The secretary-treasurer reviewed the financial report to March 31, 2005 provided with the
agenda package and noted the expenditures are in line for this period of time and the
school year. It appears the district is headed towards a balanced budget for the end of
the year.
MOTION:
9.3
10.0
Jamieson/Lindstrom that the Board of School Trustees support the
proposal by the District of Summerland to upgrade the Centre Stage
Theatre.
CARRIED
Queen’s Park Mural
Director of Maintenance John Hickling distributed a proposed mural to be painted
on panels attached to the south side of the rebound wall of the sports court. The
committee supported this mural being developed.
MOTION:
9.0
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – April 11, 2005
Summerland Secondary Center Stage Theatre
A report prepared by the District of Summerland examined the upgrading of the
Center Stage Theatre to allow it to become an Olympic/Paralympics Live Site. The
District of Summerland’s plan is to request funding for this from a 2010 Olympic live
sites program. Following discussion,
MOTION:
b.
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Little/Manning that the financial report to March 31, 2005 be received.
CARRIED
2004-05 Funding Announcement
The secretary-treasurer reported that the Ministry of Education has announced a onetime grant be used to reduce unfunded accruals for employee future benefits and
vacation pay. Once a district has fully retired the unfunded liability, the balance of the
one-time grant may be used to improve student achievement. Mr. Regehr added the
school district’s portion of the one-time grant is $186,352 and this amount should bring
the district to current status by the end of next year.
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Student Achievement
a.
District Workgroups
The superintendent reported that the literacy, numeracy, and social responsibility
workgroups have been assisting to set budget areas around the three goal areas
and are requesting increases in certain areas.
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10.2
Page 5
Communication and Access
a.
Field Trips
The superintendent of schools reviewed a listing of field trip requests circulated
with the agenda package, one of which had been approved by the superintendent.
MOTION:
Shunter/Jamieson that the following field trips requests be approved:
•
•
10.3
February 25 to 27, 2005, for six students from Penticton
Secondary School to participate in the provincial wrestling
championships in Coquitlam and that funding as per district
policy be provided; and
May 25 to 31, 2005, for 18 grade 8, 9 and 10 students from
Princess Margaret Secondary and Skaha Lake Middle schools to
compete in a field hockey tournament in Simi Valley, California.
CARRIED
Other Items
a.
Enrolment
The superintendent of schools reported there were 7,465 students (7,117.74 FTE)
in the district as of March 31, 2005.
b.
Policies and Practices on Food Sales
Superintendent Doi advised that the Ministry of Education has indicated that by the
beginning of the next school year school boards will be provided with voluntary
guidelines for school food sales. The Ministry is, therefore, requesting information
on the status of food sales in our schools and our efforts to promote healthy food
choices and eliminate the sale of unhealthy foods in schools. The district will
develop and debate a policy on healthy food choices in the coming fall.
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
14.0
Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – April 11, 2005
13.1
BCSTA Annual General Meeting
Trustees were reminded to bring their reports of their attendance at the BCSTA Annual
General Meeting and Canadian School Board Association Congress held March 31 to
April 3, 2005 in Vancouver for inclusion in the trustee reading file. Chairman Denesiuk
was congratulated on her re-election as vice president of the British Columbia School
Trustees Association.
13.2
Date of Next Meeting
• April 25, 2005, 7:00 p.m., Special Board Meeting, School Board Office
• May 9, 2005, 7:30 p.m., Regular Board Meeting, School Board Office
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
14.1
Trustee Comments
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Minutes of the Regular School Board Meeting – April 11, 2005
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 Penticton Secondary School were congratulated for their artwork currently
on display at the school board office:
•
•
•
•
•
•
15.0
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Annie Cameron, Grade 12
Rohit Chauhan, Grade 10
Mayosha Dyck, Grade 10
Michael Ferreira, Grade 10
Stephanie Kuhn, Grade 10
Farren Tilitzky, Grade 11
Pencil Crayon on Paper
Acrylic on Paper
Water Colour and Ink
Acrylic on Paper
Acrylic on Paper
Ink on Paper
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Manning/Jamieson that the meeting be adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
CARRIED
16.0
QUESTION PERIOD
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
April 15, 2005
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