BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 8, 2009, AT 6:30 P.M.
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
Larry Little, Chair
Ginny Manning, Vice Chair
Shelley Clarke, 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
Pam Butters, District Principal
Daphne Adey, Executive Assistant
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Little welcomed district staff, guests, and representatives of the media to the meeting
and introduced Ms. Wendy Hyer, Superintendent of Schools, effective August 1, 2009.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Manning/Perry that the agenda be adopted.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
Science Fair Winners
At the Regional Science Fair held at the Summerland Research Station in April, Nicholas
Randall and Jordan Stathers were selected to attend and compete at the Canada-Wide
Science Fair (CWSF) held in Winnipeg on May 9 to 17, 2009. This was Nicholas’ fourth
Canada-Wide Science Fair that he attended representing our Region. He did so with
style coming home with a Bronze medal. Jordan is in grade 7 and this was his first
Canada-Wide Science Fair. He also was an excellent ambassador for our school district.
Teacher Geoff Waterman has attended other Canada-Wide Science Fairs as a student;
however, this was his first time as a delegate. Nicholas and Jordan along with Mr.
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
Waterman provided highlights of the science fair and tours throughout the area. Both
students explained how the experience will affect their future goals.
Following a number of trustee questions, the students were thanked for their presentation
and congratulated on their accomplishments.
4.0
3.2
Gen-A (An After-School Middle School Recreation Program)
Concerns over the behaviour of middle school aged youth, both in school as well as in
the community, led to the development of a pilot after-school recreation program being
launched this spring. Gen-A (Generation-Active) is a collaborative effort involving the
R.C.M.P., City of Penticton Parks and Recreation, and School District No. 67 (Director of
Instruction Brian Celli) and is intended to provide opportunities for youth to be active
between the hours of 3:00 and 6:00 p.m. Terri Kalaski (Community Policing) and Carol
Flynn (City of Penticton Parks and Recreation) provided an overview of the development
of the Gen-A program, a review of the results to date, and speculation on the future
development of the program. It is expected the eight-week program will run from October
12 to December 8 and again from January to March 2010.
3.3
Queen’s Park Elementary PAC
Incoming PAC President Jay Bloomfield, accompanied by a number of representatives
from the PAC, addressed the Board regarding the proposed development of a school
parking lot on Birch Avenue. Citing the cost of the project and comments made by a city
engineer that the street would not be able to handle the congestion and parking as well
as loss of green space, Mr. Bloomfield advised the Queen’s Park Elementary School
PAC could no longer support the development of the parking lot on Birch Avenue.
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
4.1
Community Recognition
The Board of Education recognized and thanked three outstanding groups/individuals for
their contributions to the school district:
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Mo Mahal, General Manager, Walmart, for the store’s assistance over the past
six years to Queen’s Park Elementary and other schools with the acquisition of
sports equipment, student prizes, flowers, plants, and other incidental supplies;
Sheilagh Hoffman, the current piano accompanist for the district junior honour
choir as well as many years of contribution as accompanist for the district
schools;
Tom Evans, who assists with the school meals program at Queen’s Park
Elementary.
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Clarke that the minutes of the regular board of education meeting held
on May 11, 2009 be adopted.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The following items were discussed at the closed meeting held on May 11, 2009:
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Received correspondence;
Received reports from the finance and management committee; buildings, grounds,
safety and transportation committee; Shatford liaison committee; and discipline
committee;
Confirmed teaching, excluded, and CUPE staff changes;
Confirmed a principal appointment;
Approved two teacher leave requests;
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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7.0
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
Received information related to student suspensions;
Received information related to a property matter.
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Letter from Ombudsman
A follow-up letter from the Ombudsman regarding a new initiative of the Office of the
Ombudsman: The Early Resolution Process.
7.2
Letter from City of Penticton
A letter forwarded by Carol Flynn, Recreation Coordinator, City of Penticton, regarding
the 2009 Youth Week celebrations.
7.3
Letter from Queen’s Park Parent Advisory Council
A letter forwarded by Queen’s Park Parent Advisory Council regarding the development
of a parking lot for the school.
7.4
Letter from Okanagan Symphony Society
A letter forwarded by the Okanagan Symphony Society enclosing copies of letters which
pertain to the recent Okanagan Symphony school concerts held at the Cleland Theatre.
7.5
Summary of Copies of Letters to the Board
Copies of the letters to the Board listed below are available in the trustee reading file:
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MOTION:
School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) to the Minister of Education
requesting that funding be increased to allow for the availability of music
classrooms and that the Minister be asked to recognize the space as allowable
facility space;
School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) to the Minister of Education
requesting that the Minister provide additional funding to school districts to fund
increased time for education assistants;
School District No. 43 (Coquitlam) to their parents/guardians regarding the $4.1
million dollar budget shortfall for the next school year.
Manning/Siddon that the correspondence be received.
CARRIED
8.0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee Manning reported on the finance and management committee meeting held on
June 3, 2009:
a.
Kun-ei Program
Secretary-Treasurer Regehr and Director of Instruction Celli reviewed current
enrolment and financial information related to the Kun-ei student program. During
the 2008-09 school year, enrolment declined from 12 students to five which will
result in a loss for the year. The loss was specifically caused by placing these few
students in all three secondary schools with additional ESL staffing. The
committee supported efforts to keep the program and its resulting enrolment in the
district. Mr. Regehr suggested there be a minimum of five or more students in the
program and that limiting the addition of support staffing to one school if less than
eight students participate in the program would assist with the financial results.
b.
Budget Development Review
The committee reviewed the process used to develop the 2009-10 budget. The
committee recognized that the 2010-11 budget process will be adjusted in
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
recognition of the budget situation. In addition, the committee made the following
comments:
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That the PAC/SPC consultation meeting should be limited to the committee
representatives;
That consideration be given to increasing awareness of the consultation
process and that the option of seeking feedback through the district’s website
be examined;
That increased consultation may be required for specific topic issues;
Questioned if the increase of two meetings for additional consultation should
be part of core process or on an as needed basis.
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MOTION:
8.2
Manning/Perry that the report of the finance and management committee
meeting be received.
CARRIED
Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
Trustee Perry reported on the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation committee
meeting held on May 27, 2009:
a.
Queen’s Park Elementary Parking Lot
Secretary-Treasurer Regehr and Director of Maintenance John Hickling reviewed
work over the past two years to develop a parking area at Queen’s Park
Elementary School, the only school in the district without any onsite parking. This
review was initiated by the school PAC due to increased parking demands from the
South Okanagan Event Centre. A review of options for the site found restricted
opportunity for access at the south end of the property, plans by the City of
Penticton to restrict/eliminate parking on Power Street, and limited opportunity on
the north side of the site due to the limited building setback from Birch Street.
An initial parking plan for Birch Street was presented to the City over two years ago
and ultimately rejected for lack of a boulevard space. Trustee Siddon discussed a
similar plan at a PAC meeting earlier this year as did Mr. Hickling. Mr. Hickling
developed the plan to provide an entrance to the school from the new parking lot
and through a relocated door from the courtyard into the school. Recently, the City
has developed a plan incorporating road/drainage improvements on Birch Avenue
along with the creation of 16 parking spaces adjoining the school. The plan was
recently tendered by the City along with a number of their other projects before it
was brought to the PAC for further comment. Staff is aware there is concern about
use of the courtyard as an entrance to the school and requested that PAC Chair
Dirk Goedhart attend the committee meeting. The committee was advised there
were three options for consideration:
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Support that the parking be constructed with the intention to establish an
entry to the school through the courtyard;
Support that the parking be constructed and that the existing front door
remain as the front entrance;
Advise the City to remove the parking construction from the work to be
completed for street and drainage upgrades.
Trustees and parents made a number of comments including the benefit of
discouraging student access to the roof, the need to install a fence between the
parking lot and the sidewalk, difficulty of monitoring visitors if access is allowed
through the courtyard, desire for a grass strip adjoining the parking lot, and an
acknowledgement of the impracticality of a parking design which required cars to
exit by backing directly onto Birch Avenue. Mr. Hickling advised that a fence would
be constructed between the parking area and the school sidewalk.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 5
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
Committee Chair Perry observed the consensus of the discussion was to proceed
with the construction, to construct a new fence for the courtyard, and to leave the
entrance to the school unchanged. He also encouraged that the parents’ request
to add green space to the design be pursued with the City.
Trustees further discussed the development of the parking lot at the board meeting.
Following a number of questions and comments regarding the constraints of the Queen’s
Park site, the need for parking, and a safe drop-off site for the school,
MOTION:
b.
Capital Plan Submission
Secretary-Treasurer Regehr advised the 2009-10 capital plan was completed and
forwarded to the Ministry of Education. The plan required submission of enrolment
estimates for each school up to 2017. The estimates were based on total numbers
provided by the Ministry which showed growth at kindergarten starting in 2010,
growth at elementary starting in 2013, and enrolment decline at secondary
continuing until 2017. The Summerland Secondary School project will be further
developed during the next year including preliminary design and a review to
determine interest in a construction partnership with the community.
c.
Carbon Footprint Reduction
The committee was advised the final plan was forwarded to the Ministry of
Education on May 15, 2009.
d.
Maple Trees at Penticton Secondary School
Director of Maintenance Hickling reviewed information received regarding the trees
at the front of Penticton Secondary School. A number of concerns have been
raised about the trees including problems with previous pruning and disease.
Further review of options for tree replacement will be examined.
MOTION:
9.0
Perry/Siddon that the school district will proceed with the tender to develop
the Queen’s Park Elementary School parking lot on Birch Street.
CARRIED
Perry/Clarke that the report of the buildings, grounds, safety, and
transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Penticton Secondary School Reconstruction
During the report on reconstruction of Penticton Secondary School, Director of
Maintenance John Hickling noted that remaining deficiencies in the main school are
being completed by the contractor and custom millwork installation for offices continues
with SD67 staff. The contamination of the hydronic HVAC system appears to have been
successfully filtered from the system and the HVAC control operation has been turned
over to SD67 maintenance staff. The renovation of the Ellis building and links to the main
school have been slightly delayed with the main floor paint and flooring nearing
completion and the second floor paint and flooring begun. The cupola renovation is
nearing completion, the new Main Street entry stairs have started, and the concrete
exterior stairs have begun. The contractor plans to move service trailers off site by the
end of June with completion now scheduled for the end of July. For Phase V (the parking
lot, tennis courts, and sports court), the concrete footings are completed on the west side
retaining wall. The excavation has begun for the tennis courts and sports court, and
underground drains have been installed below the parking lot. The lock block installation
to protect the east wall of the Shatford basement has begun and the fire hydrant has
been relocated to its permanent position. Mr. Hickling added that the contractor was
saving and recycling fill for the site. Completion is still contemplated for the end of
August 2009.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
9.2
Financial Report
The secretary-treasurer reviewed the financial report to May 31, 2009 provided in the
agenda package noting that a number of transactions and contracts within the special
education area still need to be entered prior to year-end. Mr. Regehr added the district is
headed towards a balanced budget.
9.3
Board Meeting Dates
The secretary-treasurer reviewed proposed board of education meeting dates for the
2009-10 school year. Based on a monthly meeting being held on the second Monday of
each month (with adjustments for holidays), the meeting dates for the 2009-10 school
year will be as follows:
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9.4
10.0
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September 14, 2009
October 5, 2009
November 9, 2009
December 14, 2009 (inaugural and regular meetings)
January 11, 2010
February 8, 2010
March 1, 2010
April 12, 2010
May 10, 2010
June 14, 2010.
2009-10 Budget
The secretary-treasurer reviewed that as part of the guidelines for development of the
2009-10 budget, the district is required to provide the Ministry of Education by June 30,
2009 with a certified Report of Administration Cost Reductions.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Student Achievement
a.
Literacy and Numeracy
Director of Instruction Lynn Hauptman provided an overview of literacy and
numeracy activities over the past six years which focussed on having teachers
working together, building learning communities, and completing substantial work
regarding assessments. Over 75 teachers were trained in First Steps in Math.
Through the expanded mandate of the Ministry to include early learning, the district
will have four StrongStart programs beginning in September. Queen’s Park
Elementary currently has over 400 students making it the largest StrongStart
Centre in the province. Ms. Hauptman extended appreciation to all who worked
towards the district’s goals and for her opportunity to work in the areas of literacy.
b.
School Completion/Transitions
Director of Instruction Celli commented that the school completion goal was one of
the most gratifying areas to be involved with in his career. He noted the working
group had approximately 40 teachers and trustees at every meeting. As a result,
the group looked at discipline and moved towards restorative justice and early
intervention which contributed to improvements in school completion and
transitions.
c.
Francesca Ota Demers (Jill McCullum/Dean Bates)
Hearing Impaired Teacher Jill McCullum introduced a six-minute video which
celebrated the achievement of Francesca Ota Demers, a hearing impaired grade
10 student. Francesca was a guest speaker at a recent convention at which the
video was taped and has been a phenomenal role model to others.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
10.2
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Communication and Access
a.
Field Trips
For information only, the superintendent of schools reviewed a listing of field trip
requests approved by the principal or superintendent pursuant to district policy as
well as field trip requests which require Board approval.
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Manning that pursuant to district policy, funding be
provided for the following field trip requests:
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MOTION:
May 23 to 26, 2009 for five students from Summerland
Secondary School to compete in the provincial golf
championships in Chilliwack, BC; and
June 5 and 6, 2009, for two Summerland Secondary School
students to participate in the track and field provincial
championships in Burnaby, BC.
CARRIED
Perry/Clarke that final approval be granted for the following field trip
request:
•
10.3
September 26 to October 8, 2009, for 21 students from
Penticton Secondary, Princess Margaret Secondary, and
Summerland Secondary schools to travel to Tokyo and
Ikeda, Japan, on a sister city exchange participating in a
wide variety of fun and educational activities.
CARRIED
Other Items
a.
Enrolment
For information only, Director of Instruction Burgoyne reviewed enrolment as of
May 31, 2009. Currently, the district has 6,844 students, or 6,502.235 FTE, a slight
decrease since the last report.
b.
Summer Leadership Conference
Superintendent Doi reported that registrations for the Summer Leadership
Conference, which is taking place at the Penticton Trade & Convention Centre on
August 23 to 25, 2009, are down slightly compared to the same time last year.
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
BCSTA Okanagan Branch Meeting
Trustee Van Alphen announced that the BCSTA Okanagan Branch meeting will be
hosted by SD67 on October 16 and 17, 2009 and reviewed proposed plans for the event.
Appreciation was extended to Superintendent Doi, Secretary-Treasurer Regehr, and
Executive Assistants Daphne Adey and Jane Owen for their efforts in preparing the
proposed agenda for the branch meeting.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
13.2
14.0
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
Date of Next Meeting
• September 14, 2009, 6.30 p.m., Regular Meeting, School Board Office, or at the
call of the chair
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 sheet included
with the agenda package.
14.2
Recognition of Student Artwork
Students from Uplands Elementary School were congratulated for their artwork currently
on display at the school board office:
14.3
15.0
Page 8
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Zachary Sarault, Grade 4
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Ian Peters, Grade 4
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Taryn Dillon, Grade 3
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Ailie Hayman, Grade 3
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Molly Wells, Grade 3
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Katia Picton, Grade 1
Joaquin Borba, Grade 1
Alexis Picton, Grade 1
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Brooklyn Hauschild, Grade 1
A copy of a Ted Harrison art piece; a
pastel/crayon landscape with rolling hills and
water
A copy of a Ted Harrison art piece; a colourful
pastel/crayon landscape with a red house and
tree
Tissue paper flowers in teal, orange, yellow, pink
and purple
Tissue paper flowers and ferns in various
colours set in a sunny setting
A variety of different shaped flowers in tissue
outlined in black ink
Three purple and pink stamped iris flowers
Three orange and yellow stamped iris flowers
Three blue birds in a hand stamped print in dark
blue watercolour paint
Three blue birds in a hand stamped print in a
medium blue watercolour paint
Trustee Comments
Trustees provided general comments related to district activities including the annual run
by over 400 grade 4 and 5 students hosted by Kaleden Elementary School, the upcoming
celebration of the new playground at Naramata Elementary on June 17, and the
aboriginal graduation of 41 students. Best wishes were extended to Directors of
Instruction Brian Celli and Lynn Hauptman who are both leaving the district to become
superintendent of schools in Alberta and Prince Rupert respectively. Congratulations and
best wishes were also extended to Director of Instruction Garth Schafer and
Superintendent of Schools Gary Doi on their retirement from the district. As this was their
final meeting, appreciation was extended to all four for their efforts towards student
achievement in the school district.
QUESTION PERIOD
Questions and/or comments from the audience included:
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Clarification related to the proposed parking lot for Queen’s Park Elementary;
Appreciation and best wishes extended by CUPE to Superintendent Doi and Directors of
Instruction Schafer, Celli and Hauptman;
An invitation to the grand opening of the new Okanagan Skaha Teachers’ Union office on
June 12; and
Best wishes from the OSTU to Directors of Instruction Schafer, Hauptman, and Celli as
well as Superintendent Doi for their endeavours during the past number of years.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
16.0
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 8, 2009
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Manning/Clarke that the meeting be adjourned at 9:05 p.m.
CARRIED
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
June 15, 2009
Ref: U:\SBO-ST-Data\DA\2008-2009\00100 - 01999 Administration\00300-03 Agenda Open\090608 OP.doc
“Working Together for Student Success”