Decisions and statements at the regular meeting of Trustees – School District #53

1. SOSS rebuild is costing more than expected – $1.2 million dollars so far over budget. The price of steel is the culprit says Secretary Treasurer Lynda Minnabarriet. She says this seems to be a common problem at the moment on a number of school projects in BC. The board is hopeful that the extra monies will be found from within the project or from additonal facility grants. A further report on the overruns will come at the next meeting October 24.

2. Three SOSS students have been selected to work on the rebuild projects says Assistant Superintendent Jim Insley. They will be working with sub contractors on the project this fall.

3. School Superintendent Bev Young reports that school enrollment is down by 40 FTE with a total student number of 2344 in the entire district. Cawston Primary has 20 fewer students than last year and Tuc-el-nuit Elementary has 21 fewer students. SOSS student enrollment is down 8 and OES is down 7. In OK Falls, the elementary school is up three and in Osoyoos – OSS is up 4 and the elementary school is up 1.

4. On the policy front – a policy on mandatory retirement at age 65 has been dumped as this law in Canada has been deemed illegal by the Supreme Court. The district has instituted a new policy on corporate donations and is working on a staff code of conduct policy that will get input from partners like the teachers union before being passed later this year.

5. The district’s outreach program – “Learning Forums” have not generated much citizen/family input. The most recent one in Keremeos had two people attend. In Oliver, 20 persons attended. More Learning Forums are slated – the next in Osoyoos.