BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR SCHOOL BOARD MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2009, AT 7:30 P.M.
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
Larry Little, Chair
Ginny Manning, Vice Chair
Shelley Clarke, Trustee
Connie Denesiuk, Trustee
David Perry, Trustee
Tom Siddon, Trustee
Linda Van Alphen, Trustee
Gary Doi, Superintendent of Schools
Frank Regehr, Secretary-Treasurer
Ron Shongrunden, Director of Finance and Information Technology
Dave Burgoyne, Director of Instruction
Brian Celli, Director of Instruction
Lynn Hauptman, Director of Instruction
Garth Schafer, Director of Instruction
John Hickling, Director of Maintenance
Daphne Adey, Executive Assistant
Pam Butters, Vice Principal, Skaha Lake Middle School
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Little welcomed district staff, guests, and representatives of the media to the meeting.
Prior to adoption of the agenda, Chairman Little announced that as part of the planning cycle of
the new Board, the Board had met and reviewed procedures, processes, and the role of a board
of education. The new Board is fully committed to maintaining the focus on the belief,
commitment and vision “to improve the achievement of all students”. The Board identified five
key components to its leadership framework – supporting school improvement, using data
effectively, creating a supportive workplace, allocating resources to needs/priorities, and involving
the community and partners. Mr. Little added that one of the areas that the Board reviewed was
“community and partner involvement” and as a result of those discussions, the Board decided to
institute changes to the public board meeting format. Effective February 9, the public board
meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m.; in-camera meetings will begin following the public meeting.
Secondly, delegations will be encouraged at the regular public meetings if there are issues of
public interest or concern, and thirdly, the general nature of questions from the gallery at the
conclusion of the meeting prior to adjournment will be recorded in the board minutes
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Siddon/Van Alphen that the agenda and addendum be approved.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
3.0
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Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
Family Literacy Day Celebration
Caroline Pennelli, Community Literacy Outreach Coordinator for South OkanaganSimilkameen, highlighted plans for the first Family Literacy Day Celebration to be held
on Saturday, January 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Cherry Lane Mall in Penticton.
This is part of the work by the Community Literacy Committee that created the first
Community Literacy Plan entitled A Tapestry of Stories. Ms. Pennelli also distributed
copies of newsletters and brochures distributed to groups in the community, and advised
a community directory is being developed listing all literacy opportunities in the area.
Trustees extended appreciation to Ms. Pennelli for her presentation and for the work
completed to date.
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
4.1
Okanagan Skaha Teachers’ Union
President Terry Green spoke to the Board regarding the Foundation Skills Assessment
(FSA) testing, highlighting some of the reasons teachers voted to not prepare for,
administer, or mark the tests. Mr. Green commented that teachers are not opposed to
the FSA’s if they are used appropriately, for the purpose for which they were designed, or
as a random sampling basis with the names of students and schools not recorded. They
are opposed to the Fraser Institute’s use of the FSA’s results to rank schools based
solely on these results. Mr. Green requested that the board of trustees consider prior to
the February deadline for administration of the FSA’s asking the Minister of Education to
abandon the FSA’s or use them on a random sampling basis without students or schools
being identified; to not ask teaching staff to prepare for, administer, or mark the FSA’s;
and thirdly, inform parents that the wishes of any parent in the district who does not want
their child to complete the FSA’s will be respected.
Following a number of trustee comments related to the FSA testing, the merits of the
testing, and displeasure with the Fraser Institute’s use of the FSA results to rank schools,
MOTION:
Perry/Siddon that the Board write to the Minister of Education regarding the
inappropriate use of the FSA results and expressing that this form of
testing is inappropriate and that results of the tests should be used on a
random sampling basis without the school or students being identified.
DEFEATED
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Perry/Van Alphen that the minutes of the regular meeting held on December 15,
2008 be approved.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The secretary-treasurer reported on the closed meeting held on December 15, 2008:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Received reports from the buildings, grounds, safety, and transportation committee and
discipline committee;
Confirmed teaching, excluded, and CUPE staff changes;
Approved five teacher leave of absence requests;
Received information related to student suspensions;
Received information related to board working sessions;
Received information regarding the superintendent’s retirement effective July 31, 2009.
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
7.0
Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Summary of Copies of Letters to the Board
Copies of the letters to the Board listed below are available in the trustee reading file:
•
•
8.0
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School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of Education and the BCTF
president requesting them to take urgent action in finding a mutually agreeable
solution to the outstanding issues related to the Foundation Skills Assessment
(FSA);
School District No. 27 (Cariboo-Chilcotin) to the Minister of Education supporting
the elimination of Child Poverty in BC as outlined in the BCTF’s brief on
Education Funding.
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee Manning reported on the finance and management committee meeting held on
January 7, 2009:
a.
2008-09 Budget
Secretary-Treasurer Regehr distributed and reviewed the Ministry of Education
funding recalculation based on the September 30, 2008 enrolment. Enrolment for
the year is down 229 students and from the preliminary estimates, enrolment is
down 129 students. Based on the provincial funding formula, the final funding was
reduced $197,406 from the funding recognized in the current budget and the total
funding for the year increased $758,263 compared to the 2007-08 final funding.
Mr. Regehr advised a final budget for the current school year will be prepared for
approval in February.
b.
School Community Connections Grant
Mr. Regehr reviewed the Community Connections Grant program. The committee
was advised that funding to assist with a playground upgrade was approved for
McNicoll Park Middle School in 2007. Mr. Hickling reviewed parking upgrades
have been completed, a sprinkler system is partially installed, and field upgrades
including new grass will be completed by summer. Mr. Regehr further advised
funding of $24,000 for a Hearts at School program was approved in December and
that additional grants of $8,000 are available for a program ending March 31, 2009.
Adventure playground projects and other projects that meet the guidelines will be
proposed for this additional funding.
In response to trustee questions regarding the budget, Secretary-Treasurer Regehr
advised that the funding announcement for the 2009-10 school year has not been
received nor have we begun the budget process. The reference to reduced funding in
the committee minutes is based on this year’s enrolment decline although there will still
be some challenges in preparing the district’s upcoming budget.
MOTION:
8.2
Manning/Van Alphen that the report of the finance and management
committee be received.
CARRIED
Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
Trustee Perry reported on the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation committee
meeting held on January 7, 2009:
a.
Penticton Secondary School Site Development Plan
Secretary-Treasurer Regehr and Director of Maintenance Hickling reviewed the
current site planning for Penticton Secondary School. The plan has been
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
developed by the project architects using information from a planning committee,
staff, city requirements, and a consultant’s traffic study. The committee was
advised planning included work for the safe entrance and exiting of vehicles,
separation of buses from other vehicles, and a location for drop off and pick up of
students. The site will also include four tennis courts and a large sports court.
Trustees clarified a number of aspects of the site plan. In addition, Trustee Siddon
distributed and commented on the review of the Penticton Secondary School site
by Proscenium Architects in 2006. At that time, the northwest corner of the site
with the possible inclusion of the Shatford building was proposed as a location for a
new performing arts center. Trustee Siddon indicated this may still be an interest
that should be considered during planning for the rebuilding of the Shatford building
but agreed this was an issue separate from the proposed site plan. By consensus,
trustees supported the proposed site plan.
MOTION:
b.
Shatford Planning Process
Secretary-Treasurer Regehr advised that the school district and City of Penticton
sought proposals from consultants to assist with a review of options for community
and school district use of the Shatford building as well as some analysis of
construction cost estimates.
Following a review of proposals from three
consultants, a team of Chris Allen of Allen + Maurer Architects Ltd. and Richard
Evans of Marceau Evans Johnson Architects was selected. Details of the work are
still to be finalized.
c.
Penticton Secondary School Demolition Contract Information
In response to a request at the December 15, 2008 board meeting, SecretaryTreasurer Regehr provided contract documents and advertisement information
related to the demolition contract and sale of auditorium seats at Penticton
Secondary. Further summary of this material will be provided.
MOTION:
9.0
Denesiuk/Perry that, subject to limited changes to the plan, work should
begin to prepare tender documents for the site development work.
CARRIED
Perry/Manning that the report of the buildings, grounds, safety, and
transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Penticton Secondary School Reconstruction
Director of Maintenance Hickling reported that the progress on the Penticton Secondary
School reconstruction has slowed down due to the cold weather and holidays. Some
deficiencies on the main facility contract continue to be cleaned up and are taking longer
than expected. Most of the demolition and interior preparation on the Ellis building is
completed. Mr. Hickling added the contractor has advised that the change orders related
to the flooring structural upgrade are completed and are well underway on the second
floor. The contractor has advised that these recent change orders will delay the
completion date by 14 weeks to June 30. Demolition of the old site is well underway with
only the link and music room left to come down. Mr. Hickling further added that the draft
plan for development of the site has been approved in principle, meetings have been
scheduled this week with the architects, electrical engineers, and civil engineers, and it is
expected that some property exchanges will be required with the City of Penticton
regarding the lane and Eckhardt Avenue setbacks. It is hoped that the site development
will go to tender at the end of February 2009.
9.2
Draft Climate Action Charter
The secretary-treasurer advised that last September at the Union of BC Municipalities
Conference, the Premier announced that, similar to municipalities, boards of education
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
can receive a grant to offset what they will pay in the carbon tax. To be eligible, boards
will need to sign a Climate Action Charter. A draft copy developed by the province was
circulated. The deadline for receiving input, which will help to guide the development of
the final version of the Charter, will be the end of January. A draft charter, which needs
to be signed by March 31 in order to be reimbursed for the carbon tax, was circulated
with the agenda package.
MOTION:
10.0
Siddon/Perry that the draft Climate Action Charter be referred to the
buildings, grounds, safety, and transportation committee for review and
comments.
CARRIED
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Student Achievement
10.2
Communication and Access
a.
b.
Field Trips
The superintendent of schools reviewed a listing of field trip requests, one of which
had been approved pursuant to district policy.
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Siddon that the field trip request for May 7 to 9, 2009 for
40 band students from Summerland Middle School to travel to
Calgary, Alberta, to perform at various schools be approved in
principle.
CARRIED
MOTION:
Perry/Denesiuk that the field trip request for May 20 to 23, 2009 for
approximately 60 band students from Skaha Lake Middle School to
travel to Edmonton, Alberta, to perform at various schools be
approved in principle.
CARRIED
Foundation Skills Assessment
The superintendent reported that the BC Public School Employers’ Association has
advised that the Board of Education (by resolution or policy) requires
teachers/union to obtain the prior approval of the superintendent of schools, or his
designate, before distributing union/political information on school property during
school hours to parents directly or through students to parents. In determining the
appropriateness of the materials for distribution, there must be a consideration of
the balancing of rights and measures that may be taken to minimally limit the
teacher’s right of free speech while at the same time achieving the objectives of the
school district.
The superintendent or designate will review the information for its accuracy and its
relevance to educational matters concerning students. Should a union/political
communication be approved by the superintendent or designate for distribution
through students, such communication must be in a sealed envelope and clearly
marked/addressed to the parent/guardian. The communication must clearly
identify the author and/or the organization. Communication through students is
also to be limited to teachers who normally communicate with parents on
educational matters concerning their children.
If the content or a portion of the communication is not accurate, the superintendent
or designate will notify the employee/union and ask them to either remove or
amend the inaccurate information. If the employee/union refuses to remove or
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
amend the inaccurate portions, the entire communication will not be permitted for
distribution. Following discussion,
MOTION:
10.3
Siddon/Denesiuk that the teachers/union be required to obtain the
prior approval of the Superintendent of Schools, or his designate,
and adhere to the procedures stipulated before distributing
union/political information on school property during school hours to
parents directly or through students to parents.
CARRIED
Other Items
a.
Enrolment
Director of Instruction Burgoyne reported the district’s enrolment as of December
19, 2008 is 6,803 students (6,500.729 FTE), a net loss of 3.0 FTE since the last
report.
b.
Masters Research Action Project
The superintendent advised that KVR Middle School teacher Steve LaPointe is
seeking permission to conduct an action research project related to numeracy as a
partial requirement of a Simon Fraser University Masters program.
MOTION:
Manning/Clarke that the request from Steve LaPointe to conduct an
action research project related to numeracy be approved.
CARRIED
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
12.1
Superintendent Search
For information, Board Chair Larry Little described the Board’s process to recruit and
select the next superintendent of schools for the Okanagan Skaha School District. Ads
will be placed this week with a closing date of February 16 and orientation, tours of
schools, and meetings with a panel comprised of partner groups representatives are
scheduled for March 9. The process will include feedback from all partner groups. Mr.
Little added that interviews are scheduled for March 10 with notification to the district and
media shortly thereafter.
12.2
2012 and 2014 B.C. Winter Games
At the December meeting, the Board of Education considered a request from the City of
Penticton that Penticton school classrooms and gymnasiums be made available to
support an application to host either the 2012 or 2014 B.C. Winter Games. The City of
Penticton has now revised this request through the following resolution approved at their
January 5, 2009 meeting:
THAT the bid to host the 2012 or 2014 B.C. Winter Games be revised by including
the city and community facilities such as the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre
and the South Okanagan Events Centre as possible venue locations for
accommodations and the Community Centre as a possible venue for events;
AND THAT the School Board be requested to permit the use of school gymnasiums
for hosting events for the 2012 or 2014 B.C. Winter Games;
AND FURTHER THAT an expenditure of $45,000 of cash and $50,000 of in kind
services be committed if the games are awarded.
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Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
Chairman Little added that accommodations at city facilities will allow schools to remain
open during the Games and thanked City of Penticton staff for coming up with a
compromise. Following discussion and clarification,
MOTION:
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1
BCSTA Provincial Council Meeting
The deadline for BCSTA to receive motions for the BCSTA Provincial Council meeting (to
be held February 28, 2009) is January 26, 2009.
13.2
BCSTA Annual General Meeting
The deadline for submission of motions for BCSTA’s annual general meeting to be held
April 23 to 26, 2009 is as follows:
•
•
14.0
Perry/Denesiuk that School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) supports the
City of Penticton in its bid to host either the 2012 or 2014 B.C. Winter
Games and will provide free of charge the necessary school gymnasiums
for competition with the understanding that costs incurred by School
District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) for these games will be reimbursed.
CARRIED
Extraordinary motions – February 11, 2009
Substantive motions – February 20, 2009
13.3
BCSTA Okanagan Branch Meeting
The BCSTA Okanagan Branch meeting will be held on February 6 and 7, 2009 in
Kamloops.
13.4
Date of Next Meeting
• February 9, 2009, 6:30 p.m., Regular Meeting, School Board Office
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
14.1
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 listing
circulated with the agenda package.
14.2
Recognition of Student Artwork
Students from Summerland Middle School were recognized for their artwork currently on
display at the school board office:
•
Lauren Fair, Grade 7
•
Jessa Barber, Grade 7
•
Diandra Williams, Grade 8
•
Jackie Scott, Grade 8
•
Hallan Savage, Grade 8
•
Rianne Haag, Grade 8
A flower in a pot on white paper with black ink
patterns and designs throughout the drawing
A lobster on white paper with black ink patterns
and designs throughout the drawing
Various shapes and designs cut out of black
construction paper on a base of white paper that
mirror each other
A colourful painted selection of eight individual
designs that mimic each other within 4 x 5 boxes
A colourful painted selection of eight individual
designs that mimic each other within 4 x 5 boxes
Thin cut out figures reaching for the sky on white
construction paper with black cut out designs
that mirror each other
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
•
14.3
15.0
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Carmen Huber, Grade 8
Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting – January 12, 2009
Swirled cut out designs on white construction
paper with black cut out shapes that mirror each
other
Trustee Comments
Trustees provided comments related to district activities including the Ikeda field trip
dinner, band students playing their instruments on the streets of Summerland just prior to
Christmas, and appreciation for the volunteerism of coaches, teachers, and parents for
basketball and other sports.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Manning/Siddon that the meeting be adjourned at 9:10 p.m.
CARRIED
16.0
QUESTION PERIOD
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
January 15, 2009
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