BOARD OF EDUCATION
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 67 (OKANAGAN SKAHA)
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
HELD ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014, AT 6:30 P.M.
AT THE SCHOOL BOARD OFFICE
MINUTES
IN ATTENDANCE
Bruce Johnson, Chair
Tracy St. Claire, Vice Chair
Linda Beaven, Trustee
Shelley Clarke, Trustee
Walter Huebert, Trustee
Ginny Manning, Trustee
Linda Van Alphen, Trustee
Wendy Hyer, Superintendent of Schools
Bonnie Roller Routley, Secretary-Treasurer
Dave Burgoyne, Assistant Superintendent
Pam Butters, Director of Instruction
Doug Gorcak, Director of Facilities
Don MacIntyre, Director of Instruction
Maureen Maywood, Director of Finance
Daphne Adey, Executive Assistant
1.0
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Johnson called the meeting to order and acknowledged that we are on the traditional
territory of the Okanagan people.
2.0
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
MOTION:
Beaven/Huebert that the agenda and addendum with the addition of 13.3 be
adopted.
CARRIED
3.0
PRESENTATIONS BY SCHOOLS AND/OR STUDENTS
4.0
RECEIVING OF DELEGATIONS AND GUESTS
4.1
CUPE Local 523
Jose Van Berkel, Secretary-Treasurer, CUPE Local 523, made a presentation to the
Board related to the issue of adding five professional development days within the school
year for the 2014-15 calendar. Ms. Van Berkel asked that trustees consider that all
groups affected be allowed to work the five professional development days adding that
aboriginal education workers, behaviour intensive support workers, StrongStart workers,
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
and certified education assistant workers would benefit from reviewing student files, team
buildings, and enriching the programs already in place. Library assistants could use the
time for processing new material, updating records, and organization. Custodial and bus
driver hours would be well spent with extra jobs that go beyond the scope of their regular
hours. Ms. Van Berkel noted that most CUPE staff already experience no work during
the second week of spring break.
Chair Johnson thanked Ms. Van Berkel for her presentation and advised that the
consultation period continues for another month.
5.0
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS
MOTION:
Manning/Beaven that the minutes of the regular meeting held on January 13, 2014
be adopted.
CARRIED
6.0
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
6.1
Notice of Motion
At the January 13, 2014 meeting, Trustee St. Claire gave notice of the following motion to
be presented at the next regular meeting of the Board of Education on Monday, February
3, 2014: “That Board committee meetings be scheduled consecutively starting at 2:00
p.m., once a month on the Monday two weeks prior to a regular Board meeting, and that
this new schedule take effect on April 1, 2014.”
A backgrounder of information provided with the agenda package showed that the
average length of committee meetings during the past year was 1.25 hours each and that
running four consecutive meetings would result in overtime costs along with the need for
dinner. Trustee St. Claire advised the two main reasons for bringing forth the motion
centered around creating efficiencies around meeting times and cost savings by
beginning after the normal lunch hour. Following discussion, the original notice of motion
was amended.
MOTION:
7.0
St. Claire/Beaven that Board committee meetings be scheduled
consecutively starting at 1:00 p.m., once a month on the Monday two
weeks prior to a regular Board meeting, and that this new schedule take
effect on April 1, 2014.
CARRIED
REPORT FROM CLOSED MEETINGS
Chair Johnson reviewed the following items which were discussed at the closed meeting held on
January 13, 2014:








Received a staffing report for teaching and CUPE support staff;
Received information on CUPE and teacher bargaining;
Received information on a confidential letter related to a legal matter;
Received an update on an employee matter;
Clarified information related to a letter;
Received information on student suspensions;
Received information related to a principal vacancy;
Received information related to an Okanagan Labour Relations Council meeting and a
BCPSEA meeting.
MOTION:
Beaven/Huebert that the report from the closed meeting of January 13, 2014 be
received.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
8.0
Page 3
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
CORRESPONDENCE
8.1
Letter from Minister of Education
A letter from the Minister of Education’s office thanking the district for the invitation for the
Minister to visit the school district and advising his schedule will not allow him to visit at
this time.
MOTION:
8.2
Manning/Van Alphen that an invitation be extended to the Deputy Minister
of Education to visit the school district.
CARRIED
Copy of Letter to the Board
A copy of the letter to the Board listed below is available in the trustee reading file:

School District No. 39 (Vancouver) in response to the Minister of Education’s
letter regarding their savings plan under the Cooperative Gains Mandate.
MOTION:
Clarke/Manning that the correspondence be received.
CARRIED
8.3
Summary of Letters on Behalf of the Board
Letters from the Board are listed below:



9.0
To City of Penticton requesting a rate abatement for increases in electrical rates;
To parents Margeret Myslek and Tom Koczij denying their request for their son’s
exceptional admission to the Late French Immersion program at KVR Middle
School; and
To Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development providing the Board’s
comments on the second phase of campaign finance reform for local elections.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
9.1
Curriculum Development Advisory Committee
Trustee Huebert reported regarding the curriculum development advisory committee
meeting held on January 16, 2014:
a.
Weight Training 12
Doug MacDonald, Principal of ConnectED, advised this course was brought to the
committee at the December meeting as a Grade 11 course. Subsequent research
revealed that the Grade 11 version of this course had been approved previously
and Mr. MacDonald came back to the committee to seek approval for the course at
the Grade 12 level. It was confirmed that the courses were significantly different in
design and intended learning outcomes. No concerns were expressed by the
committee and no questions were asked.
b.
Principles of Social Interaction 10 and 11
Pam Butters, Director of Student Services, presented information on Principles of
Social Interaction 10 and 11, proposed as two four-credit BAA courses ported from
School District No. 28 (Quesnel). Ms. Butters was seeking approval for the courses
to be offered in SD67. Social Interaction 10 and 11 are a combination of
fundamental skills required for specific students who are working towards
independence and success in adulthood. The courses are designed for students
with developmental disabilities and behavioural difficulties. These students often
lack the necessary social skills to live up to their potential. These courses would
only be made available to students who were recommended by the special
education teacher at the school. The credits would help students to accumulate
graduation requirements as may be outlined in their IEP or school leaving plan. Ms.
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School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
Butters explained that she was not sure which secondary school would be offering
the courses and that would depend on where the registrations are coming from and
which teacher(s) may be available to provide the instruction. She confirmed that
these courses were only meant to be available to students who fit the criteria
discussed. The committee asked questions regarding the criteria and there were
many comments in support of this type of instruction for students. It was
recommended that the three courses be approved for use in the school district.
MOTION:
Huebert/Clarke that the following Board/Authority Authorized courses be
approved for use in School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha):


Weight Training 12
Principles of Social Interaction 10 and 11
CARRIED
MOTION:
9.2
Education Committee
Trustee Beaven reported that at the education committee meeting visitation to Parkway
Elementary School on January 28, 2014 trustees were broken into two groups before
being given a tour of the school and shown what is really happening in schools, students
learning and using the Okanagan aboriginal symbols and cultures.
MOTION:
9.3
Huebert/Beaven that the report of the curriculum development advisory
committee meeting be received.
CARRIED
Beaven/Van Alphen that the report of the education committee meeting be
received.
CARRIED
Finance and Management Committee
Trustee St. Claire reported on the finance and management committee meeting held on
January 29, 2014:
a.
2014-15 Budget Guiding Principles and Objectives
The budget guiding principles and objectives for 2013-14 were reviewed and there
were no suggestions for changes for 2014-15.
MOTION:
b.
St. Claire/Beaven that the 2013-14 Budget Guiding Principles and
Objectives be approved with no changes for the 2014-15 budget
development.
CARRIED
2014-15 Budget Process
Secretary-Treasurer Roller Routley reviewed the process she would like to use for
the 2014-15 budget development. This was presented at the principals/vice
principals meeting with no negative responses. Staff is currently building new G/L
structures and a very global budget which will be reviewed and further defined by
the senior management team. Trustees would see the first draft of the budget at
the April finance and management in-camera committee meeting. Dates have not
been set due to the pending notice of motion. It was suggested that trustees
encourage parent input through their DPAC representatives and that newsletters,
newspaper advertisements, district website and other means of communications be
used to ensure that parents and the public are aware of opportunities to provide
feedback.
MOTION:
St. Claire/Huebert that the 2014-15 budget process with clarifications
be approved by the Board.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 5
AMENDMENT:
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
Manning/Van Alphen that staff be directed to include a
mechanism to include a public presentation and feedback.
CARRIED
MOTION AS AMENDED CARRIED
c.
2014-15 Budget Projection
Secretary-Treasurer Roller Routley advised the amended annual budget will be
presented at Monday’s board meeting. During this process, it was established that
the district is not projecting any unrestricted surplus at year-end. There will be
some funds remaining to be carried forward such as school based areas, learning
resources, leadership conference, and pro-d account; however, it is not expected
there will be any surplus funds to be used for next year’s budget.
d.
International Student Fees
Superintendent Hyer provided an overview of current international student fees and
a proposed increase in fees for the 2015-16 and 2016-17 school years to align the
fees with those charged by other districts in the valley. Personalized winter and
summer programs for groups are available upon request. Following discussion,
MOTION:
St. Claire/Beaven that the international fees structure for 2015-16 and
2016-17 be approved as follows:
Long Term Program One or Two Semesters
Non-Refundable Application
Fee/Custodianship
Tuition
Placement/Monitoring
Homestay
Medical Insurance
Activity Fee
TOTAL
Two Semesters (10 months) One Semester (5 months)
300
300
12,200
500
7,500
850
100
$21,450
6,300
250
3,750
425
50
$11,075
Short Term Program (One to Four Months)
Non-Refundable Application
Fee/Custodianship
Tuition
Placement/Monitoring
Homestay
Medical Insurance
TOTAL
One
Month
300
1,300
100
750
85
$2,535
Two
Months
300
2,600
150
1,500
170
$4,720
“Working Together for Student Success”
Three
Months
300
Four
Months
300
3,900
200
2,250
255
$6,905
5,200
250
3,000
340
$9,090
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
Summer/Winter Program
Non-Refundable Application
Fee/Custodianship
Tuition
Placement/Monitoring
Homestay
Medical Insurance
Activity Fee
TOTALS
Two Weeks
300
Three Weeks
300
650
75
375
40
400
$1,840
975
75
565
60
600
$2,575
Four Weeks
300
1,300
100
750
85
800
$3,335
CARRIED
e.
School Fee Litigation
For information only, Director of Finance Maywood advised the school district had
been named in a class action suit for charging school fees in 2006. The Vancouver
Sun advertised how the claims could be made. Notices have been sent to the last
known addresses of where parents were living and anyone who wants to make a
claim needs to make it by February 22, 2014. The administrator, who is working on
behalf of all districts named, will provide this district with the results by May 23. If
parents are wondering if they qualify to receive funds, they should contact
Assistant Superintendent Burgoyne.
MOTION:
10.0
St. Claire/Clarke that the report of the finance and management committee
be received.
CARRIED
REPORT OF SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
10.1
Science Fair
The superintendent of schools reported that schools in SD67 will be presenting their
projects in the District Science Fair on March 3 at Summerland Secondary School. The
Science Fair, sponsored jointly by the school district and the Kiwanis Clubs of Penticton
and Summerland, features original science projects by local students from Grades 6 and
up. Several of these projects will be selected to proceed to the Regional Science Fair to
be held at KLO Secondary, in Kelowna on April 12, 2014. Appreciation was extended to
both Kiwanis Clubs and other sponsors for their support.
10.2
Okanagan Valley Concert Band Festival
A maximum of 28 middle and secondary school concert bands from throughout the
Pacific Northwest will be performing at the Cleland Theatre on March 4 and 5, 2014. The
Okanagan Concert Band Festival is also featuring performances by the University of
Calgary Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Wayne Jeffery on Tuesday, March 4.
There will be two shows, 6:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and tickets cost $5.00. A schedule of
performances was provided. New this year, the first Okanagan Concert Band Festival
Mass Band, led by the Penticton Senior Concert Band (Princess Margaret and Penticton
Secondary Combined Band) will see a number of other bands join in on the Yamaha
festival piece “Band-o-Rama” with resident composers Justin Glibbery and Stan
Sabourin. This will be held on Wednesday, March 5, over the lunch hour at the Cleland
Theatre, will feature multi-grade parts, and is designed to be performed with a
combination of younger and more experienced groups at the same time.
10.3
Field Trips
The superintendent of schools reviewed a listing of field trip requests, one of which had
been approved by the superintendent pursuant to district policy.
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
MOTION:
MOTION:
MOTION:
11.0
Page 7
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
Manning/Van Alphen that the field trip request for March 14 to 24, 2015, for
approximately 50 students from Penticton Secondary, Princess Margaret
Secondary, and Summerland Secondary to travel to Rome, Tuscany, the
Riviera, and Paris to experience and learn about those countries and
cultures be approved in principle.
CARRIED
St. Claire/Clarke that the field trip request for March 19 to 30, 2016 for
approximately 50 students from Penticton Secondary, Princess Margaret
Secondary and Summerland Secondary schools to travel to Portugal and
Spain to experience and learn about those countries and cultures be
approved in principle.
CARRIED
Huebert/Van Alphen that the field trip request for July 2 to 19, 2014 for
approximately 12 students from Penticton Secondary School to travel to
Cuba to participate in ecological research with scientists working with
Operation Wallacea on the Isle of Youth in Cuba be given final approval.
CARRIED
10.4
Enrolment
The superintendent of schools reported that enrolment as of January 31, 2014 showed
5,978 students, an increase of nine students from the previous month.
10.5
French Immersion
Director of Instruction MacIntyre reported that the registration deadline for Penticton and
Summerland was Monday, February 3 at noon. Eighty-seven students were registered
for KVR Middle School and 37 for Summerland Middle School. Three students were from
outside the district. These numbers will allow four divisions for September 2014-15.
10.6
Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia's Visit to Penticton
Superintendent Hyer announced that the Honourable Judith Guichon, Lieutenant
Governor of British Columbia, will be visiting Penticton on Friday, February 14, 2014.
She will visit Uplands Elementary School for an assembly followed by a short tour of the
school. A copy of the itinerary was included with the agenda package.
REPORT OF SECRETARY-TREASURER
11.1
2013-14 Amended Annual Budget Bylaw
Secretary-Treasurer Roller Routley provided an overview of changes provided in the
2013-14 amended annual budget. It was noted that the district was down by 59 students
from the original estimate, Ministry grants dropped by $459,996, and expenses
decreased by $516,674. A surplus of $176,154 in unrestricted funds is expected for year
end.
Ms. Roller Routley thanked district staff for their input during budget meetings and to Ms.
Maywood and Ms. Ponech for their efforts in preparing the Ministry document.
The 2013-14 Amended Annual Budget and Bylaw was presented in the total amount of
$63,241,042.
MOTION:
St. Claire/Van Alphen that, in accordance with Section 68(4) of the School
Act, the Board of Education of School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
unanimously agrees to give all three readings of the Amended Annual
Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2013-14 at this meeting.
CARRIED
“Working Together for Student Success”
School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Page 8
MOTION:
St. Claire/Huebert that the School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2013-14 be read a first time
this 3rd day of February 2014.
CARRIED
MOTION:
Manning/Van Alphen that the School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha)
Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2013-14 be read a second
time this 3rd day of February 2014.
CARRIED
MOTION:
Beaven/Clarke that the School District No. 67 (Okanagan Skaha) Amended
Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2013-14 be read a third time, passed
and adopted this 3rd day of February 2014.
CARRIED
12.0
NEW BUSINESS
13.0
REPORT OF REPRESENTATIVES
13.1
BCSTA Okanagan Branch Meeting
The BCSTA Okanagan Branch meeting will be held on March 7 and 8, 2014 in Penticton,
hosted by SD67. A copy of the agenda was included with the agenda package.
13.2
Trustee Comments
Trustees mentioned a number of district activities including a presentation to parents
related to cyber bullying awareness on February 24 at the Penticton Secondary Library;
the Princess Margaret Secondary dry grad fundraiser on February 14; Wiltse
Elementary’s Sparky the Fire Dog visit which was the result of Mrs. Nicoll’s class being a
national winner in a competition; and a fundraiser for Tansania on February 15 at
Princess Margaret Secondary. Chair Johnson reported he had met with MLA Dan
Ashton on three occasions, attended the Chamber of Commerce meeting on January 29,
and met with City of Penticton Liaison Helena Konanz on January 30. It was also noted
that Bonnie and Clyde opens on February 12 at Summerland Secondary and runs until
February 22.
13.3
BCSTA AGM
The BCSTA AGM will be held in Vancouver, April 24 to 27, 2014. The deadline for
submitting motions to the AGM are as follows:


14.0
Extraordinary Motions
Substantive Motions
February 13
February 23
INFORMATION ITEMS
14.1
15.0
Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
Date of Next Meeting
 March 10, 2014, 6:30 p.m., Regular Meeting, School Board Office
QUESTION PERIOD
Questions/comments from the audience included:
clarification of dates for the budget
development, and an inquiry related to shared services.
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16.0
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Minutes of Regular Board of Education Meeting – February 3, 2014
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION:
St. Claire/Huebert that the meeting be adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
CARRIED
____________________________________
Bruce Johnson, Chair
____________________________________
Bonnie Roller Routley, Secretary-Treasurer
March 4, 2014
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