School Board Report – School District #53 – Okanagan Similkameen
Student Achievement
Dual Credit/ACE IT: At this time, there are ten students in the district signed up for ACE IT and Dual Credit programs beginning in February. In Okanagan College programs, we have five students accepted into the Oliver Welding Level C program (with the possibility of two more), two students in the Residential Construction program in Penticton, and one student in Dental Office Administration. Also, we have one student entering BCIT’s level one Electrician program at the Burnaby campus and one student attending the Esthetics program at the Okanagan Cosmetology Institute in Penticton.
Grades 6 and 7 Career Trades Presentations: Ms. Philpott-Adhikary has begun these presentations and will continue them until all grades 6 and 7 classes in the district have been visited. These presentations are funded by our Career Education Grant and raise awareness among elementary students and teachers.
Innovation / Initiatives
DISTRICT-BASED INITIATIVES
Bill 33: Our obligations under Bill 33 and related class size legislation and decisions from Arbitrator Dorsey apply throughout the year. Consultations must occur at any time throughout the school year where the learning environment changes due to additional students or newly designated 1701 students who trigger class size and composition requirements. This would include the reorganization of students and classes for second semester in secondary schools. Principals and/or vice-principals must consult with teachers of grades 8-12 courses which exceed 30 students, as well as courses where there are more than three designated IEP students in a class. These consultations must occur within fifteen days after the start of second semester. Secondary school administrators will be engaging in this process in the coming few weeks.
Bills 27 and 28: These bills resulted in the removal of school organization issues such as class size and composition from the realm of the collective agreement into the realm of legislation. This was challenged and on April 13, 2011, a decision was issued by the BC Supreme Court declaring that the legislation interfered with collective bargaining and that the interference was substantial. The court gave government one year to address the repercussions of the decision and enter into negotiations with the BCTF to find a solution. We expect to hear of a resolution in some form prior to April 13, 2012
Family Literacy Day: As part of our commitment to community literacy, we are participating in the region’s Family Literacy Day event at the Cherry Lane Mall in Penticton on Saturday, January 28th, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. We invite the community to come out and see all the wonderful displays and enjoy the entertainment. Ms. Dana Bedard and our StrongStart BC facilitators will be collaborating with their School District No. 67 counterparts to highlight their programs, and our very own Ms. Lisa McCall will be the afternoon’s Master of Ceremony.
EDI: The Early Development Instrument process is alive and well. This year, because of the strike and in consideration of the importance of the data collected, the BCTF has taken a lead role in communicating with teachers. Chere Plante is once again providing support for teachers including the training for teachers new to kindergarten and the EDI. As it is a voluntary task, we are pleased to announce that all kindergarten teachers intend to complete the surveys and appreciate the support of SOSTU in this venture.
Early Learning Literacy Workshop: Donna Kozak from School District No. 23 presented a workshop featuring Miriam Trehearne’s new book Learning to Write and Loving It on Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 5:30 to 8:30 pm at Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary library. This workshop was attended by 30 early childhood educators, teachers and administrators. Each received a complimentary copy of the book. On Thursday and Friday, Ms. Kozak also coached our StrongStart BC and preschool partnership ECE’s in presenting literacy components in their programs.
Grade 4 ‘Okanagan Peoples’ Unit: Helen Gallagher will be in-servicing grade 4 teachers on the new Grade 4 Social Studies Okanagan People unit on January 27 in the library of Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School.
Foundations Skills Assessment: This is underway in elementary schools with school administrators administering the assessment. Marking of the assessment will be done on Saturday, March 3rd. This enterprise will be led by Mr. Foster, Ms. McCall and Ms. Miller with Ms. Benoit, Mr. Tumlinson and Ms. Newson working closely with them in order to learn the leadership role for future years.
Kindergarten Registration: Registration began on January 16 and will go until March 9, 2012. We are advertising in the local media, school newsletters, the district website, and through word of mouth so that we have accurate projections for September and can staff accordingly. Each school will provide a “Welcome to Kindergarten” orientation program in May or June.
SCHOOL-BASED INITIATIVES
Rick Hansen 25th Anniversary Relay: Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School has been selected as a “Start of Day Celebration” site for the Relay on May 8th, 2012. Start of Day Celebrations play a very important role in the success of the Relay. This presentation and departure ceremony will launch the Relay for the day and provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase what makes Tuc-el-Nuit and students extraordinary. The school is now in the process of choosing a worthy student as ‘Medal Bearer’, based on established criteria, who will carry the Rick Hansen Medal. The medal is a symbol of hope and determination.
Field Trips: • Final approval was given for the Aboriginal department’s field trip to Vancouver to attend the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation series which includes the Career Fair, Youth Day at UBC and the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards. Approval-in-Principle was given at the December 14, 2011 regular board meeting. • Final approval was given for the secondary schools’ band trip to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho. Approval-in-principle was given at the November 23, 2011 board meeting. • For information only: Ms. Harstone will be taking 25 students from SOSS to Vancouver for the Vancouver Sun Run on April 14 to 15, 2012. This is the third time she has taken a group of students to this event. The application has been approved as per policy by the superintendent/designate.
Operations
Toddler Care at Tuc-el-Nuit: This new program is up and running with 7 toddlers registered. The room looks great thanks to the tremendous work of Bruce Porteous and the maintenance crew. Stop by and have a look at the new room.
Cawston Primary PAC Playground Equipment Reimbursement: The district has received confirmation that the Certificate of Approval for the Cawston Primary playground equipment has been registered in the Ministry. The district can now request the dollars and send the funds to the PAC.
December 2011 Enrolment Report: As indicated in the December 2011 enrolment report, student enrolment is 2,380.375 FTE which is an overall decrease from September 2011 of 13.125 FTE. Elementary schools have decreased by 7 FTE, secondary schools decreased by 31.125 FTE and YouLearn has increased by 25 FTE since September 2011.
2012/13 Funding: The district received the 2012/13 funding estimator from the Ministry on January 16, 2012. Staff is in the process of reviewing the preliminary numbers and will have more information at February’s management committee meeting.
SOSS Rebuild: District staff met with Ministry of Education officials recently regarding the latest SOSS rebuilding costs (actual and projected). Once the costs are finalized, the district will send the report to the Ministry for submission to Treasury Board. Treasury Board will likely review the submission in March.
The next regular meeting of the Board of Education will take place on February 22, 2012 at 7:00 pm at the School Board Office in Oliver.