BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012, AT 6:30 P.M.
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
Ginny Manning, Chair
Linda Van Alphen, Vice Chair
Linda Beaven, Trustee
Shelley Clarke, Trustee
Walter Huebert, Trustee
Bruce Johnson, Trustee
Tracy St. Claire, Trustee
Wendy Hyer, Superintendent of Schools
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:
Van Alphen/Beaven that the agenda be adopted.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
3.1
Early Learning Initiatives
Kirsten Odian, Early Learning Helping Teacher, provided an overview of the professional
development activities offered to support the transition from half day to full day
kindergarten. Ms. Odian noted there are 21 full day kindergarten classes in our district
and two K-1 combined classes. A demonstration of the website she developed, titled
“Kindergarten Land”, designed as a communal place where kindergarten teachers can
meet and share information, was provided. The kindergarten teachers have met once
and plan to meet two to three times additional times during this school year.
Following the number of questions, appreciation was extended to Ms. Odian for her
presentation and assistance as a helping teacher.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 2
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – January 9, 2012
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
5.0
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
MOTION:
Clarke/Johnson that the minutes of the regular meeting held on December 12,
2011 be approved.
CARRIED
6.0
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETING
Chair Manning reviewed the following items discussed at the closed meeting held on December
12, 2011:
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7.0
Received correspondence;
Received reports from the finance and management committee and the buildings,
grounds, safety, and transportation committee;
Declined a request for transportation assistance;
Confirmed teaching and support staff changes;
Received information related to teacher and support staff bargaining;
Reviewed information regarding the 2012-13 funding formula;
Received information related to a legal matter;
Received a principal resignation for retirement and information related to the interview
process for the resulting vacancy;
Confirmed an acting vice principal position;
Approved one teacher leave request; and
Received information related to student suspensions.
CORRESPONDENCE
7.1
Summary of Copies of Letters to the Board
A copy of the letter to the Board listed below is available in the trustee reading file:
•
School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) to the Minister of Education regarding the
unique student needs funding.
MOTION:
Van Alphen/Clarke that the correspondence be received.
CARRIED
8.0
REPORT OF COMMITTEES
8.1
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee St. Claire reported on the finance and management committee meeting held on
January 4, 2012:
a.
Funding Letter to the Minister
Secretary-Treasurer Shongrunden reviewed a draft letter to the Minister of
Education recommending that the Ministry of Education adjust its funding formula
to reflect the difference between BC Hydro rates and middleman rates. This
unique situation of having the highest electrical rates in the province results in
SD67 paying more than $300,000 in electricity costs each year compared to most
other districts. The committee discussed the merits of sending the letter,
suggested some changes to the wording, and recommended that the letter be sent.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
MOTION:
b.
Page 3
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – January 9, 2012
St. Claire/Van Alphen that the Board send a letter to the Minister of
Education recommending that the Ministry of Education adjust its funding
formula to reflect the difference between BC Hydro rates and middlemen
rates.
CARRIED
Resolution for BCPSEA AGM
Trustee Linda Van Alphen reviewed Ordinary Resolution 0-1 which will be
presented at the BCPSEA Representative Assembly later this month. The
proposed resolution would allow for expenses for the BC Public School Employers’
Association Representative Assemblies to include travel, accommodation and
meals being reimbursed for the trustee representative and for one senior member
of district staff. Following review, it was agreed to support the resolution.
MOTION:
St. Claire/Van Alphen that the Board of Education support Ordinary
Resolution 0-1 as presented at the BCPSEA Representative Assembly.
CARRIED
Declaring a possible conflict of interest, Trustees Beaven and Van Alphen left the
meeting for discussion on this topic.
c.
Good Will Shakespeare Festival
A request has been received for approval of the Good Will Shakespeare Festival,
hosted annually since 2000 by Summerland Secondary School. It was noted that
the Board has previously supported the project by providing access to A/V
equipment, tables, chairs, and BBQ; by providing CUPE personnel to help with the
set-up/clean-up of the banquet; and by providing access to the Summerland
Secondary gym for the banquet; and on one occasion during the start-up years
provided TOC release time.
The secretary-treasurer reviewed the request for the 2012 Festival as well as a
memo outlining the background of the request and approximate costs for 2012.
Trustees discussed why providing TOC release time or bussing should be different
for this event when it is not provided for sporting tournaments or other hosted
events and agreed fairness should be considered at all times. It was noted that
bussing is provided for the annual science fair and band festival; however, these
are district-wide events. The committee suggested that TOC release time and
transportation costs could be covered by school funds and agreed to recommend
that support be provided as in the past. Trustees further supported that future
requests from the Good Will Shakespeare Festival need not be referred to the
Board unless there is a change in the request.
MOTION:
St. Claire/Johnson that the Board of Education continue to support the
2012 Good Will Shakespeare Festival by providing at no charge:
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•
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Access to A/V equipment, tables, chairs, and BBQ;
CUPE personnel to help with the set-up/clean-up of the banquet; and
Access to the Summerland Secondary gym on Saturday, May 12
(12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) for the conference banquet.
CARRIED
Trustees Beaven and Van Alphen returned to the meeting.
d.
Finance In-service
It was agreed that the financial in-service be postponed to January 23, 3:00 p.m.
MOTION:
St. Claire/Clarke that the report of the finance and management committee
be received.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
8.2
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – January 9, 2012
Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
Trustee Huebert reported on the buildings, grounds, safety and transportation committee
meeting held on January 4, 2012:
a.
Video Surveillance Report
Director of Facilities Gorcak advised that Policy No. 725 requires an annual review
of video surveillance procedures in the district and reviewed a report outlining the
number and locations of cameras in the school district. This report was circulated
to committee members. The intent of the cameras is to protect students, property,
and staff and help with lowering incidents of vandalism. Mr. Gorcak added a
privacy impact assessment must be completed and approved by the school
planning council before the request is presented to the superintendent for final
approval. In response to a trustee question whether any plans exist for installation
of rolled shutters instead of cameras, Mr. Gorcak advised that each school is
considered individually as to the best way to reduce vandalism at that site and that
installing cameras may have reduced the amount of vandalism at our sites. It was
requested that a vandalism report be prepared to provide statistics related to
individual school incidents.
b.
In-service on Facilities Department
The director of facilities provided an overview of the facilities department which
outlined the structure of the maintenance, custodial, and transportation
departments, the types of work completed by each department, and the number of
employees in each area. Mr. Gorcak is supported by a full time secretary who
spends part of her time at the board office and part at the maintenance site. It was
noted that custodial staffing is allocated based on an area criteria combined with
the number of students at the school. The secretary-treasurer added that during a
comparison of excluded staff last year, SD67 staffing compared very well when
compared to cohort districts in the province.
Trustee Huebert noted that the school district’s facilities are well maintained and
attributed this to the quality of the district’s staff.
MOTION:
8.3
Huebert/Beaven that the report of the buildings, grounds, safety and
transportation committee be received.
CARRIED
Education Committee
Trustee Johnson reported regarding the education committee meeting held on January 3,
2012:
a.
Network of Inquiry and Innovation
Sharon Sola, Principal, Carmi Elementary, and Network Regional Coordinator,
provided an overview of the work and the four case studies completed in School
District No. 67 last school year. Four schools in the district completed a Network of
Performance Based School inquiry and/or an Aboriginal Enhancement Schools
Network inquiry. Carmi Elementary and the Home Learners’ Program focused their
question and work on student belonging while Parkway Elementary and McNicoll
Park Middle centered their questions on Social Responsibility. The focus of the
work is to combine inquiry with thoughtful assessment practices and learning
innovations to enhance student success and to bring the goals of the Enhancement
Agreement to life to have a positive impact on the achievement of the district’s
Aboriginal learners.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – January 9, 2012
b.
Farm Bag Fundraiser
Superintendent Hyer informed trustees about the Farm Bag Fundraiser Program
being offered at a number of schools in the district. An overview of this program
and a video clip from SHAW News about the program at Uplands Elementary was
provided.
c.
Early Development Instrument (known as EDI)
Superintendent Hyer provided an update on the administration of the EDI survey
for this school year. Results of the EDI help the school district determine which
areas of the district have the highest percentage of “vulnerable” students. It is in
those areas that the district has established StrongStart programs. Because this is
a research project carried out by the Human Early Learning Partnership at UBC,
teacher participation in completing the surveys is voluntary and at least eighty
percent of the kindergarten teachers need to volunteer in order for the district to be
involved. In the past, all the kindergarten teachers have participated. This year,
with job action taking place, the teachers’ union has continued to support teacher
participation in completing EDI surveys.
d.
Technology in Schools
Ron Shongrunden, Secretary Treasurer, provided a brief update on the status of
expanding wireless technology in schools. Mr. Shongrunden met with the
principals and vice principals prior to winter vacation break to request a meeting
with a representative group to discuss questions and concerns that principals and
vice principals are getting from their parent groups. In addition, Mr. Shongrunden
indicated he is looking at setting up informational meetings at each school to
discuss wireless technology with parents and the community.
MOTION:
9.0
Page 5
Johnson/Huebert that the report of the education committee be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
9.1
2011-12 Amended Budget
For information only, Secretary-Treasurer Shongrunden advised the 2011-12 Amended
Annual Budget Bylaw will be presented at the February board of education meeting. It is
anticipated the district will have a balanced budget.
9.2
Policy No. 402 – Child Protection
Pursuant to district policy, the 30-day circulation period to partner groups was approved
at the November board meeting for Policy No. 402 – Child Protection. Mr. Shongrunden
advised that to date no suggestions have been received to modify this policy and the
policy is therefore recommended for adoption.
MOTION:
9.3
Beaven/Johnson that Policy No. 402 – Child Protection be approved as
circulated.
CARRIED
Policy No. 403 – Student Health and Well-Being
Mr. Shongrunden advised that pursuant to district policy, the 30-day circulation period to
partner groups was approved at the November board meeting for Policy No. 403 –
Student Health and Well-Being. To date, no suggestions have been received to modify
this policy and the policy is therefore recommended for adoption.
MOTION:
Clarke/Van Alphen that Policy No. 403 – Student Health and Well-Being be
approved as circulated.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
10.0
Page 6
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Field Trips
Director of Instruction MacIntyre reviewed two field trip requests, one of which had been
approved by the superintendent. The second concerned a previous field trip request
from Penticton Secondary School to travel to Hawaii for competition in a music festival
during the March break. The teacher is now requesting a change in location to Calgary,
Alberta.
MOTION:
10.2
Van Alphen/Beaven that the field trip request for Penticton Secondary
School students to travel to Calgary, Alberta, during spring break for an
adjudicated festival be approved in principle.
CARRIED
Enrolment
The superintendent of schools reported on enrolment as of December 31, 2011, noting a
decrease of three students since November. There are currently 6,319 students in the
district.
11.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
12.0
NEW AND UNFINISHED BUSINESS
13.0
INFORMATION ITEMS
14.0
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – January 9, 2012
13.1
BCSTA Provincial Council Meeting
The deadline for the BCSTA to receive provincial council meeting motions is January 25,
2012. The provincial council meeting will be held on February 24/25, 2012 in Vancouver.
13.2
BCSTA Thompson Okanagan Branch Meeting
The BCSTA Thompson Okanagan Branch meeting will be held on March 2/3, 2012,
hosted by School District No. 58 (Nicola-Similkameen).
13.3
Date of Next Meeting
• February 13, 2012, 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
Congratulations were extended to the students from McNicoll Park Middle School for their
artwork currently on display at the school board office.
14.3
Trustee Comments
Trustees provided general comments related to district activities including the upcoming
DARE graduation at Summerland Middle School, the Phantom of the Opera at
Summerland Secondary School, the recent McNicoll Park band concert, and excellent
Christmas and winter school concerts. It was also noted that the City of Penticton will be
holding a public input session related to proposed electrical rate increases on January
18, 2012, 6:00 p.m., and trustees are encouraged to attend.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 7
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – January 9, 2012
15.0
QUESTION PERIOD
Comments/questions from the audience included comments from Mike Johnson, a representative
of CUPE, related to the maintenance and quality of school district buildings.
16.0
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
Clarke/Johnson that the meeting be adjourned at 7:26 p.m.
CARRIED
____________________
Chairperson
____________________
Secretary-Treasurer
January 18, 2012
Ref: U:\SBO-ST-Data\DA\2011-2012\00100 - 00999 Admin\00300-05 Minutes Open\2012-01-09 OP Minutes.docx
“Working Together for Student Success”