1. District Restructuring:

A decision has been made not to replace the position of Assistant School District Superintendent in 2015. The board will restructure itself into a number staff/administrator based committees and attempt to do the same kind of work district wide. Meetings have been scheduled in all areas of the school district to meet with interested staff and to receive feedback regarding the leadership areas to establish. (see earlier story on retirement of Assistant School District Superintendent Jim Insley)

2. Student Achievement:

A report from Superintendent Bev Young highlights that progress is being made in the achievement of students.  In reading and writing School District 53 students rank above the provincial average. The gap is narrowing between rankings on aboriginal and other students.

Six year completion rates are getting better with a 79% success rate up from 76%. Male student completion rate and Aboriginal student rate stands at 75% – with the biggest increase in female students – now standing at 83% rate. Based on those that graduate at Dogwood level within a six year period (grade 8 to 12).

The aboriginal success rate increase was also up in a significant way from 67 to 75 percent.

3. Request for information: Recently School District 67 Penticton/Summerland released a report on declining enrollment using figures in a 15 year period (1999 to 2014). Local officials have promised to release such figures soon.

The Okanagan Skaha figures show a decline of 2000 students.  Going from 7878 to 5868 in a decade and a half. This is a trend province wide with the exception of metro Vancouver.