BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2011, 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
Ron Shongrunden, Secretary-Treasurer
Dave Burgoyne, Assistant Superintendent
Maureen Maywood, Director of Finance
Doug Gorcak, Director of Facilities
Pam Butters, Director of Instruction
Don MacIntyre, Director of Instruction
Daphne Adey, Executive Assistant
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Manning welcomed everyone to the meeting.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Denesiuk/Van Alphen that the agenda with the addition of a notice of motion for the
November meeting under 12.1 be approved.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
Penticton Secondary Field Trip to Tanzania
Vice Principal Sandra Richardson, accompanied by students Kayla Burton, Morgan
Parker, and Kenya Rogers and teacher Kirsten Brisch, provided an overview of the
students’ humanitarian trip to Tanzania this past summer during which the students
helped build a classroom at Camp Moses. The students also provided highlights and
shared life changing experiences gained from the trip.
Following a number of trustee questions, appreciation was extended to the group for
sharing their experiences with trustees.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 2
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 3, 2011
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Little/Van Alphen that the minutes of the regular meeting held on September 12,
2011 be approved.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
The following items were discussed at the closed meeting held on September 12, 2011:
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7.0
Received reports from the finance and management committee; buildings, grounds,
safety, and transportation committee; and discipline committee;
Approved a bussette purchase;
Confirmed teaching and support staff changes;
Approved appointment of an excluded staff member;
Received information related to teacher bargaining;
Confirmed acting vice principal appointments;
Received a vice principal resignation;
Approved four teacher leave requests;
Received information related to student suspensions;
Received information related to elementary school start-up;
Received information related to a student program.
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Letter from Columbia Institute
A letter forwarded by the Columbia Institute enclosing a copy of the study by the institute
on the impact of carbon neutral legislation on school district budgets and districts’ efforts
to reduce their carbon footprints.
7.2
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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School District No. 79 (Cowichan Valley) to the Minister of Education requesting
that all school districts be refunded the amounts paid to Pacific Carbon Trust and
that these funds to be used to upgrade district facilities to raise their
environmental integrity;
School District No. 39 (Vancouver) to the Minister of Education requesting that
the province ensure that school districts are not negatively impacted as a result
of the reinstatement of the GST/PST;
School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) to the Minister of Education expressing
extreme disappointment regarding several issues related to the enrolment audit
that was conducted in the 2010-11 school year.
MOTION:
Denesiuk/Clarke that the correspondence be received.
CARRIED
8.0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Education Committee
Trustee Clarke reported regarding the education committee meeting held on September
27, 2011:
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 3
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 3, 2011
a.
Sunshine DreamLift Program
The Sunshine DreamLift program, sponsored by Wendy’s, transports a plane full of
children to a special destination and back. For many of the children, a DreamLift is
more than just fun, it is their first chance to taste independence and experience the
adventure of a first plane ride. A brief overview of the Sunshine DreamLift planned
for December 2011 was provided by Director of Instruction Pam Butters. One of
the district’s teachers, Jill McCullum, will be travelling with six students on this
year’s trip, December 6, to Disneyland.
b.
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Device Curriculum
Kathy Ryan, a Speech Language Pathologist currently seconded to SET BC, made
a presentation about a Summerland Secondary student who completed a Board
Authorized course on Augmentative and Alternate Communication. A video was
shown in which Mike demonstrated the use of his Augmentative and Alternate
Communication device and what he learned from the course.
c.
Auditor General Report of Special Education
Director of Instruction Pam Butters presented the 13 recommendations made by
the Auditor General’s office as a result of the Accountability Audit completed
January through to June of 2010. A response to the recommendations has been
requested by Auditor General John Doyle. The Board will respond indicating that
they have been made aware of the recommendations. The Board is pleased that
the district was reflected well with no glaring deficiencies.
d.
Thompson Okanagan Branch BCSTA Meeting
Trustee Clarke solicited feedback from trustees for the upcoming ThompsonOkanagan Branch meeting of the BCSTA. Two questions were asked for
feedback:
1.
Should Early Learning be brought under the jurisdiction of a single ministry,
i.e. education?
All four trustees present agreed that it should not be brought under the
jurisdiction of the Ministry of Education.
2. What are one or two successes in the district and one or two challenges we
face?
Trustee Manning indicated a success was the improvement in the aboriginal grad
rate. Two challenges discussed were the lack of funding for learning disabled
students, and clarity is needed around 21st Century Learning.
MOTION:
9.0
Clarke/Siddon that the report of the education committee be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
Policy No. 305 – Choice and Flexibility
The secretary-treasurer advised that pursuant to district policy, the 30-day circulation
period to partner groups was approved at the June 2011 board meeting for Policy No.
305 – Choice and Flexibility. To date, no suggestions have been received to modify this
policy and the policy is therefore recommended for adoption.
MOTION:
Little/Siddon that Policy No. 305 – Choice and Flexibility be given final
approval.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
9.2
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 3, 2011
Policy No. 210 – Political/Religious Activities and Materials in Schools
Secretary-Treasurer Shongrunden advised that pursuant to district policy, the 30-day
circulation period to partner groups was approved at the June 2011 board of education
meeting for Policy No. 210 – Political/Religious Activities and Materials in Schools. To
date, no suggestions have been received to modify this policy and the policy is therefore
recommended for adoption.
MOTION:
10.0
Page 4
Van Alphen/Perry that Policy No. 210 – Political/Religious Activities and
Materials in Schools be given final approval.
CARRIED
9.3
Trustee Elections
The secretary-treasurer reminded everyone that the nomination period for the trustee
election runs from 9:00 a.m., October 4, to 4:00 p.m., October 14. The election will be
held on November 19, 2011.
9.4
Strategic Telecommunications Announcement
Following a three-year negotiated request for proposals process, the Ministry of Labour,
Citizens’ Services and Open Government posted a Notice of Intent on September 27 to
award a 10-year strategic telecommunications services contract worth approximately 100
million dollars per year to TELUS. The secretary-treasurer added the school district
currently has a contract with TELUS and it remains unclear what effect this
announcement will have on SD67.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Enrolment
Assistant Superintendent Burgoyne reported that enrolment as of September 30, 2011
shows 6,255 students in the school district compared to 6,266 as of September 30, 2010.
Mr. Burgoyne added this number is 30 students more than the projected enrolment for
September and noted there are 375 kindergarten students compared to 350 for last year.
10.2
Class Size and Composition Report
The School Act requires that the superintendent must submit a Class Size and
Composition report to the Board of Education and District Parent Advisory Council
(DPAC) on or before October 1 of each school year and be presented at a public meeting
by October 15. Mr. Burgoyne advised the report was e-mailed on October 1 to all
trustees and provided highlights of the report. It was noted the kindergarten district
average continues to be significantly below the legislated maximum of 19.0; the primary
(grade 1 to 3) district class size average has not changed significantly in the past nine
years; and the district class size averages in intermediate (grades 4 and 5), middle (6 to
8), and secondary (9 to 12) continue to be well below the legislated maximum averages.
Mr. Burgoyne summarized the class composition noting the number of kindergarten to
grade 5 classes that have more than three designated students is up two from last year;
the number of grade 6 to 8 classes that have greater than three designated students has
decreased after three straight years of increasing; and there continues to be
approximately 40% of the secondary classes having more than three designated students
during the last three years.
In response to a trustee question, Mr. Burgoyne advised the $282,000 budgeted for the
last three years for composition classes has been used to add new divisions and
additional help.
MOTION:
Denesiuk/Van Alphen that the class size and composition report be
accepted.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 5
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 3, 2011
Appreciation was extended to Mr. Burgoyne and staff for their efforts in making the best
possible arrangements with the resources allocated.
10.3
Field Trips
Director of Instruction MacIntyre provided feedback from school administrators at middle
and secondary levels and school PAC’s related to current practices for field trips. The
information included the educational value of field trips; the associated costs; trips used
as an incentive to join programs; the loss of instructional time; could trips be done closer
to home yet have equal educational value; and the supervision required. It was noted
that a strong educational value is placed on the majority of field trip requests and no
students are left behind for financial reasons.
Following a number of questions, trustees requested that the report to the Board asking
for field trip approvals should elaborate on the educational value of the trip along with the
cost.
10.4
Field Trip Requests
Director of Instruction MacIntyre reviewed a field trip request for September 25 to
October 5, 2011 for 24 students from Penticton Secondary School to travel to Vaseaux
Lake for an outdoor recreation experience. This trip was previously approved pursuant to
district policy. Trustees expressed an interest in hearing from some of the students who
participated in the field trip at a future meeting.
10.5
Through a Different Lens
Assistant Superintendent Burgoyne advised a group of teachers in the district are
involved in this project, which is funded by the Vancouver Foundation. The teachers are
seeking permission to document and share the findings of their work so that they can
share their successes with other educators.
MOTION:
Clarke/Little that permission be granted for teachers participating in the
“Through a Different Lens” project to document and share the findings of
their work with other educators.
CARRIED
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
12.1
Notice of Motion
Trustees Perry and Siddon gave notice of the following motion to be presented at the
next regular meeting of the Board of School Trustees on Monday, November 14, 2011:
“It is hereby moved that School District 67 adopt an amendment to its Policy No. 600 –
Fiscal Control – to expressly disallow any retiree from the Senior Administrative staff to
be hired back under contract to provide any form of full-time remunerated service to the
district, unless the said individual’s full retirement pension is declined during the duration
of the Contract.”
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
13.1
BCSTA Thomson Okanagan Branch Meeting
Trustee Van Alphen provided an overview of the BCSTA Thompson Okanagan Branch
meeting held on September 30 and October 1, 2011 in Salmon Arm noting trustees
toured a new elementary school with an attached neighbourhood learning centre;
approved the financial statements; and participated in a number of pro-d sessions for
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 6
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – October 3, 2011
trustees. Branch President Van Alphen presented certificates of appreciation to retiring
Trustee Little for 18 years as a trustee and to Trustee Denesiuk for 19 years of service.
14.0
15.0
13.2
BCSTA Provincial Council Meeting
The BCSTA Provincial Council Meeting will be held on October 21 and 22, 2011 in
Vancouver.
13.3
Date of Next Meeting
• November 14, 2011, 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 listing circulated with the
agenda package.
14.2
Recognition of Student Artwork
Students from Parkway Elementary School were congratulated for their artwork currently
on display at the school board office.
14.3
Trustee Comments
Chair Manning reported she had attended an RCMP Advisory Committee meeting on
September 28 at which sunrise and sunset bush parties were discussed. Inspector
Haugli and Terri Kalaski of the Community Restorative Justice Prevention and
Awareness Community Education Program will meet with the three secondary principals
to develop a plan to change the massive grad party with education to parents and
students. Trustees commented on the banners at Carmi Elementary encouraging
awareness to slow down and the additional work for administrators and district staff
caused by the teachers’ strike. An update was provided on the Penticton Secondary
100th Anniversary noting that planning is underway for a new website, a wine and
cheese, a dance at the Penticton Lakeside, and side events such as a royalty tea,
Golden Hawkes football team, alumni staff/student basketball game, and Reach of the
Top. The events will be held on the May long weekend in 2012.
QUESTION PERIOD
Questions and/or comments from the audience included:
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16.0
OSTU President Kevin Epp seeking clarification regarding the BCPSEA representative
meeting and teachers’ strike; and expressing concerns regarding the district’s class size
and composition report;
James Miller, Penticton Herald, seeking clarification and comments regarding the notice
of motion;
A comment from the public regarding a greater Toronto school cafeteria.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Clarke/Van Alphen that the meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
CARRIED
____________________
Chairperson
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Secretary-Treasurer
October 14, 2011
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“Working Together for Student Success”