BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, JUNE 14, 2010, AT 6:30 P.M.
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
Ginny Manning, Chair
Linda Van Alphen, Vice Chair
Shelley Clarke, Trustee
Connie Denesiuk, Trustee
Larry Little, Trustee
David Perry, Trustee
Tom Siddon, Trustee
Wendy Hyer, Superintendent of Schools
Ron Shongrunden, Secretary-Treasurer
Dave Burgoyne, Assistant Superintendent
John Hickling, Director of Maintenance
Pam Butters, Director of Instruction
Tom Schimmer, District Principal
Daphne Adey, Executive Assistant
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Manning welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Little/Van Alphen that the agenda with addendum be approved.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
The Clowning Connections Project
Students Layne Richardson and Emily Ann Harrison, Penticton Secondary School, and
Grace Manders from Summerland Secondary volunteered for training in Clown Therapy
Skills and then used these skills to work with Alzheimer’s patients at the Village by the
Station. Sandra Richardson, Vice Principal, Penticton Secondary, provided an overview
of the project and the impact it has had with the patients involved. The students spoke
about how the program has helped them gain self confidence and become more
comfortable speaking in public as well as how it has built relationships with the patients.
Ms. Richardson added the group has received $2,000 from the B.C. Retired Teachers’
Association to continue with the program for next year.
Following a number of questions, the students were thanked for the presentation and for
helping others through the program.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
4.0
Page 2
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
4.1
Community Recognition
The Board of Education recognized and thanked two outstanding groups for their
contributions to the school district:
•
•
Joe Aschenmeier, Staples, as a major corporate sponsor for the Smiling Back
Initiative;
Caroline Blais, Al Tiller, and Nigel Alakiji, TELUS Community Connections, for
sponsoring inner city schools by making up back-to-school kits for kids.
On behalf of the British Columbia School Trustees Association, Chair Manning presented
Trustee Denesiuk with a Long Service Certificate for 18 years of service to the school
district.
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Perry/Siddon that the minutes of the regular meeting held on May 10 and the
special meeting held on May 31, 2010 be approved.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The following items were discussed at the closed meeting held on May 10, 2010:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Received reports from the finance and management committee;
Received information related to the long service recognition/retirement dinner;
Received information related to upcoming bargaining; (Declaring a possible conflict of
interest, Trustee Little left the meeting for discussion of this topic.)
Confirmed teaching and support staff changes;
Confirmed summer school principal appointments;
Received a principal resignation and information related to the rehiring;
Received information related to student suspensions;
Received information related to a report from a meeting of the Okanagan Labour
Relations Council; and
Received information related to a staffing matter.
One item was discussed at the closed meeting held on May 31, 2010: selection of applications to
forward to the School Community Connections program.
7.0
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Letter from Okanagan Skaha Teachers’ Union
A letter forwarded by the Okanagan Skaha Teachers’ Union expressing regret that the
Board of Education has chosen to close schools for November 12, 2010 as part of the
measures undertaken to meet budget constraints and suggesting that the regulation was
not followed related to the school calendar.
Chair Manning reviewed the sequence of establishing the school calendar for 2010-11,
reviewed the consultation with partner groups, and advised the school calendar
regulation requires only the proposed calendar be circulated for input. Through the
budget process, the calendar was adopted by the Board and the Board worked hard to
minimize the number of school closure days resulting from the budget shortfall.
7.2
Letter from Teacher/Librarians
A letter forwarded by teacher-librarians requesting that the Board of Education reconsider
the decision to close IMC.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
7.3
Page 3
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
Summary of Copies of Letters to the Board
Copies of the letters to the Board listed below are available in the trustee reading file:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the BC Child and Youth Advocacy Coalition
endorsing the letter reaffirming the call for the government of British Columbia to
launch a comprehensive and accountable poverty reduction plan aimed at
dramatically reducing homelessness and poverty in British Columbia;
School District No. 51 (Boundary) to the Minister of Education requesting the
Minister to ask government to review their investment and commitment to BC’s
public education system and to advocate for further funding increases to
strengthen the education system in BC;
School District No. 72 (Campbell River) to the Minister of Education requesting
that the Minister and Ministry work toward a resolution to alleviate the concerns
of trustees, parents, and educators related to the Foundation Skills Assessment;
School District No. 72 (Campbell River) to the Minister of Education and
President of the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation urging both to resolve
their differences with regard to the Foundation Skills Assessment;
School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of Education requesting that
the Minister ensure that the report of the Special Advisor to the Vancouver Board
of Education is released to the Vancouver Board of Education at the same time
the report is provided to the Minister of Education, and subsequently to the
public, and secondly, requesting a meeting be scheduled to review the report’s
findings and discuss the school district’s financial challenges;
School District No. 23 (Central Okanagan) to the Minister of Education and
Minister of Children and Family Development requesting additional funding from
CommunityLink to address the additional full day kindergarten students and
secondly, to request an earlier announcement for funding so that the funding can
be included in the budget process;
School District No. 53 (Okanagan Similkameen) to the Minister of Education
expressing appreciation for continuing to provide specific funding protection to
districts with declining enrolment and requesting that if funding protection is to be
altered or discontinued that districts be provided with a specific timeline;
BCSTA Thompson Okanagan Branch to the Minister of Education requesting that
the Minister and Deputy Minister annually attend one branch meeting for each
branch of the BCSTA;
BCSTA Thompson Okanagan Branch to the President of BCSTA recommending
that BCSTA change the format of the meetings with the Minister and/or Deputy
Minister of Education from the lottery system for school districts to meetings with
branch president and that the format of branch meetings be used to coalesce
information on issues relative and important to the respective branch and its
boards;
School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of Education accepting the
Minister’s invitation for the Vancouver School Board to participate in the pilot
project aimed at assessing whether it makes sense to implement a shared
system for business operations within the K-12 education sector;
School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of Education thanking the
Minister for meeting with Vancouver school trustees on June 8 concerning the
Report on the Vancouver School Board prepared for the Minister by the Office of
the Comptroller General, Ministry of Finance and commenting on the Report; and
School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of Education responding to the
Minister’s letter regarding the Vancouver School Board’s preliminary response to
the Comptroller General’s report.
MOTION:
Clarke/Denesiuk that the correspondence be received.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 4
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
In response to Trustee Perry’s comment regarding the situation with the Vancouver
school board and apparent lack of response from the BCSTA, Trustee Denesiuk, who is
president of the BCSTA, replied that the BCSTA has been very vocal about issues that
affect all boards rather than individual boards, highlighted media with whom she has
spoken since the release of the Comptroller General’s report, and added the BCSTA
Board of Director has phoned every chair and all board chairs with the exception of two
were pleased with the response from the BCSTA.
In response to Trustee Siddon’s question why all letters to the board are not listed on the
agenda, the superintendent responded that all letters to the Board are listed on the
regular board agenda unless it refers to a student or personnel. Regarding a letter from a
parent concerning French Immersion, it was not listed on the board agenda as it had
been reviewed at the education committee and finance and management committee and
was considered during the budget deliberations along with three other letters related to
the budget. It was noted that letters written to staff are responded to by staff. It was also
noted that the Board encourages people to write to the board chair regarding their
concerns for inclusion on the board agenda.
Trustees also commented that the Board will be reviewing the Report from the
Comptroller General at a trustee working session as soon as a suitable date for all
trustees can be established.
8.0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee Van Alphen reported on the finance and management committee meeting held
on June 9, 2010:
a.
Trustee Indemnity
Trustee Van Alphen noted that Policy No. 150 requires that the trustee indemnity
rates, at the June meeting annually, shall be reported to the Board for
consideration. At the September 11, 2006 board meeting, a resolution was
approved to establish the trustee indemnities, that for the next four years the
indemnity be adjusted by the consumer price index (CPI) for B.C., and that this
adjustment be reported annually to the finance and management committee. The
secretary-treasurer advised the CPI for B.C. was 0% for 2008-09 and no
adjustment was made last year. As well, he circulated a listing of trustee indemnity
rates throughout the province. The committee did not recommend any changes to
the current trustee indemnity rates.
Further to the report, Chair Manning added that prior to 2006 there had been no raise in
the trustee indemnity rates for 16 years and commented that trustees have shown
leadership by not voting for a raise during this difficult budget year.
b.
Post Budget Review and Communication
The committee reviewed the process used to develop the 2010-11 budget along
with communication on several topics which could be provided through the website.
General consensus was that the process and format used this year was well
received. It was noted the survey was worthwhile although some parents indicated
they did not have sufficient information or knowledge to respond to some of the
questions. It was suggested that partner groups be contacted for their comments
related to the budget process.
Secretary-Treasurer Shongrunden provided a memo outlining a number of items to
be considered related to communication and budget development. The committee
agreed a trustee working session should be held as soon as possible. Suggested
dates, including evening sessions, will be circulated to trustees.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
MOTION:
8.2
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
Van Alphen/Clarke 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 June 3, 2010:
a.
RDOS Mosquito Catch Basin Applications
Director of Maintenance Hickling reviewed details of the RDOS Mosquito
Abatement Program in which an RDOS licensed pesticide applicator has been
putting larvacide tablets into school district catch basins in the entire RDOS region
to reduce the risk of the West Nile Virus. The program has been underway for
approximately ten years although staff at SD53 and SD67 were not aware that the
pesticide application was underway until contacted last week. Information related
to the program along with an Interior Health document called Pest Management
Plan for the Control of Mosquito Larvae That are Potential Vectors of West Nile
Virus were circulated to trustees. Mr. Hickling advised that the application of the
pesticide for West Nile Virus must be done by a certified applicator such as the
RDOS as SD67 has only a Landscape Integrated Pest Management licence.
SD67 staff will advise the RDOS to apply the IPM approved larvacides on SD67
property. School district staff will advise schools and the RDOS will perform this
service at no cost to SD67.
b.
Penticton Secondary School Logo
Director of Maintenance Hickling advised Penticton Secondary School is
requesting permission to place a logo on the full width of the gym wall over the
bleachers to aid in school spirit. The logo will be similar to the logo in the front and
will be in the school colours of purple and gold. Funding from the school has been
committed for the installation costs. Following discussion, trustees agreed that if
the logo is consistent with the logo at the front, approval is granted and district staff
will oversee the installation.
MOTION:
8.3
Page 5
Perry/Little that the report of the buildings, grounds, safety, and
transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
Education Committee
Trustee Clarke reported regarding the education committee meeting held on June 8,
2010:
a.
District Literacy Plan
Naomi Ludington, Community Literacy Coordinator for the South Okanagan
Similkameen, presented the District Literacy Plan with respect to improving the
literacy of all citizens within the district. District literacy plans are developed by
means of community-wide processes that include school districts as one of many
partners. Initially started in 2007, district literacy plans are multi-year, updated
annually, and must be submitted to the Minister by July 15th each year.
The first year in the Stage Three Implementation phase of our Community Literacy
Plan, A Tapestry of Stories, has been completed. The community plan is focused
around three key areas: Family Literacy, Adult/Workplace Literacy, and Health
Literacy. Ms. Ludington provided a review of the accomplishments this year; as
well, plans for the 2010-11 year were presented. Ms. Ludington concluded her
presentation with a short video on Literacy from Legacies Now.
MOTION:
Clarke/Van Alphen that the District Literacy Plan be accepted and
submitted to the Minister of Education as required by the School Act.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
b.
Page 6
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
School Improvement Plans
Superintendent Hyer and District Principal Schimmer provided information on
School Improvement Plans. The School Improvement Plan is an annual public
report that reflects the school’s commitment to improving student achievement.
Beginning in September 2009, school plans underwent a major revision to reflect
the shift to an inquiry-based model for school improvement. While the format of the
plan is significantly different, school plans and the subsequent inquiry questions
must still fall within one of the three district goals of literacy, numeracy and school
completion. The inquiry-based model is centered on a critical question developed
through a collaborative process at the school level.
Superintendent Hyer provided a brief overview of the district process used to
develop School Improvement Plans. District Principal Schimmer shared a School
Improvement Plan from Columbia Elementary with the Board and discussed the
four main components of the plan:
•
•
•
•
The Inquiry Questions
The Action Plan
The Evidence, and
The Reflection and Summary
All reports have been reviewed by District Principal Schimmer and all meet the
necessary requirements. They will be posted on our district website upon Board
approval.
MOTION:
c.
Clarke/Denesiuk that the Board of Education approve the school plan for
every school in the school district and thank the school planning councils
for the continued support and leadership.
CARRIED
BC Liquor Stores’ Dry Grad Fundraising Campaign 2010
Superintendent of Schools Hyer provided information about the BC Liquor Stores’
in-store fundraising campaign to support alcohol-free graduation celebrations in
communities throughout British Columbia. A brief overview of how the three
secondary schools in School District No. 67 benefit from this campaign was
discussed. Summerland Secondary received $1,394 from the Summerland BC
Liquor Store and Princess Margaret Secondary and Penticton Secondary will share
proportionally the $5,940 raised by the Penticton BC Liquor Store.
MOTION:
Clarke/Perry that the report of the education committee be received.
CARRIED
Chair Manning introduced Shred, the little bear adopted by students from Summerland
Middle School as a mascot for Kristi Richards. Shred has seen the world accompanying
Ms. Richards on her various journeys with the World Cup Circuit and Olympics. Ms.
Richards has created a special bond with the students at Summerland Middle School and
remains connected with the students through Shred.
9.0
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Financial Report
The secretary-treasurer reviewed the financial report to May 31, 2010 provided in the
agenda package, which showed a variance to the budget in some accounts and an
overall 14% remaining in the budget.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
9.2
Page 7
Board Meeting Dates
The secretary-treasurer reviewed proposed Board of Education meeting dates for the
2010-11 school year. Based on a monthly meeting being held o the second Monday of
each month (with adjustments for holidays), the meeting dates for the 2010-11 school
year as well as dates for the finance and management committee and building, grounds,
safety and transportation committee were proposed as follows:
Board Meeting Dates
September 13, 2010
October 4, 2010 (Thanksgiving,
Oct. 11, 2010)
November 8, 2010
December 13, 2010 (Inaugural
and regular meetings)
January 10, 2011
February 14, 2011
March 14, 2011
April 11, 2011
May 9, 2011
June 13, 2011
MOTION:
9.3
10.0
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
Finance and
Management
Committee
September 8, 2010
September 29, 2010
Buildings, Grounds,
Safety and
Transportation
Committee
September 1, 2010
September 22, 2010
November 3, 2010
December 8, 2010
October 27, 2010
December 1, 2010
January 5, 2011
February 9, 2011
March 9, 2011
April 6, 2011
May 4, 2011
June 8, 2011
January 5, 2011
February 2, 2011
March 2, 2011
April 6, 2011
April 27, 2011
June 1, 2011
Little/Clarke that the board of education meeting dates as well as the
finance and management committee and buildings, grounds, safety, and
transportation committee meeting dates be approved as presented.
CARRIED
Irrigation of School Fields
The director of maintenance reviewed the Integrated Pest Management Plan (IPM) for all
school fields, which includes regularly, scheduled aerating, watering, grass cutting, and
fertilizing. All fields have irrigation systems with internal clocks that control when the
irrigation starts and how long each zone operates. Irrigation is scheduled to start after
1:00 a.m. and end before 7:00 a.m. with most irrigation scheduled for every second day.
Daily schedules are only implemented where the turfgrass is under stress and needs
extra water. The irrigation schedule needs to be extended during periods of prolonged
sunny and hot weather to ensure the turfgrass remains healthy. Mr. Hickling noted that
irrigation water has not been applied to school fields for the past two weeks due to the
wet weather but is scheduled to begin again tomorrow. Each school has a number of
irrigation zones because the water supply to the school is not large enough to water the
entire field at one time. Each zone is presently scheduled to deliver 20 minutes or less of
water to each sprinkler every second night and may change as the weather warms up.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Student Achievement
a.
District Achievement Contract
Superintendent Hyer reviewed that the School Act requires each Board of
Education in British Columbia to prepare and submit to the Minister of Education,
an Achievement Contract with respect to standards for student performance and
plans for improving achievement in the district. The contract includes a focus on
literacy, programs to support early learning and any other goals determined by the
school district that impact student achievement. In this district, those goals include
Literacy, Numeracy, and School Completion and Transitions. This report must be
submitted to the Minister of Education by July 15th of each school year. District
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 8
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
Principal Schimmer pointed out the similarities and differences from this year’s
report and previous reports and advised the report will be available on the district’s
website in the near future.
MOTION:
Denesiuk/Clarke that the Board of Education submit its achievement
contract for the school year to the Minister and make its achievement
contract available to residents of the school district and to parents of
students attending schools in the district.
CARRIED
Appreciation was extended to Mr. Schimmer for collating the information and preparing
the report.
10.2
Communication and Access
a.
Field Trips
District Principal Schimmer reviewed one request for a field trip.
MOTION:
b.
10.3
Van Alphen/Clarke that the field trip request for 25 to 30 rugby
students from Princess Margaret Secondary School to travel to
Ottawa on a cultural exchange be approved in principle.
CARRIED
South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services: Diversity Promotion
Network
At the April 12th public board meeting, Tina Head, CIRM Program Manager, and
Hilma LaBelle, Executive Director of the South Okanagan Immigrant and
Community Services, presented and reviewed the South Okanagan Similkameen
Community Diversity Protocol with the Board of Education. On behalf of the Board,
Chairman Manning signed the community protocol. As well, the Board of
Education passed a motion to support the work of the Penticton & District
Multicultural Society and its work with the Diversity Promotion Network.
Superintendent Hyer distributed copies of the protocol to trustees and results of the
survey undertaken by the multicultural society.
Other Items
a.
Enrolment
Assistant Superintendent Burgoyne reported that enrolment as of May 31, 2010
showed 6,635 students, or 6,493.5 FTE, a slight increase from the previous month.
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1
BCSTA Provincial Council
Trustee Clarke reported that at the BCSTA Provincial Council meeting held April 25, 2010
in Victoria, the provincial council received committee reports, received a tracking of
provincial council resolutions from October 2009 and February 2010, approved the draft
of the 2009-10 BCSTA budget, and approved the appointment of D&H Group LLP,
Chartered Accountants, as auditors for the BCSTA. The report will be available in the
trustee reading file.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
13.2
14.0
Date of Next Meeting
• September 13, 2010, 6:30 p.m., Regular Meeting, School Board Office, or at the
call of the chair.
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 circulated
with the agenda package.
14.2
Recognition of Student Artwork
Congratulations were extended to the following students from Queen’s Park Elementary
School for their artwork currently on display at the school board office:
•
•
•
Matthew Taylor, Grade 1
Abi Heyer, Grade 1
Ethan Palfrey, Grade 1
•
Issac Collinge, Grade 1
•
Giles Alderliesten, Grade 1
•
Ashley Docherty, Grade 2
•
Kirsten Joseph, Grade 2
A paper plate “Little Lamb” art design
A paper plate “Little Lamb” art design
A drawing/painting of a large snowman with
large buttoned eyes
A drawing/painting of a boy playing hockey on
a snowy day
A fun drawing/painting of a snowman with
many buttons on his chest
A bouquet of flowers with a “wallpaper” vase
on a royal blue background
A bouquet of flowers with a “wallpaper” vase in
green tones
Trustee Comments
QUESTION PERIOD
Questions and/or comments from the audience were related to:
•
•
•
•
16.0
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – June 14, 2010
TRUSTEE COMMENTS
14.3
15.0
Page 9
Lack of interest by DPAC Chair Daryl Clarke regarding the results of school rankings by
the Fraser Institute;
Congratulations extended by CUPE Vice President AJ Basaraba to Superintendent Hyer
on her first year in the district;
Clarification to the adoption of the school calendar;
A question from OSTU President Kevin Epp to Trustee Denesiuk regarding the BCSTA
asking the Ministry to look at funding; the response indicated the BCSTA will continue to
advocate for fair and adequate funding.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Clarke that the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
CARRIED
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
June 18, 2010
Ref: U:\SBO-ST-Data\DA\2009-2010\00100 - 01999 Admin\00300-05 Minutes Open\100614 OP Minutes.doc
“Working Together for Student Success”