If you went to see the movie ‘Flashdance’ and wondered if there would be a time when women held jobs as welders, wonder no more!
Osoyoos Secondary School graduate Kelsey Gorgichuk (shown left above) will soon be writing her journeyman’s exam.
Kelsey suggested to the Board that she may have been influenced by her ‘Heavy-Duty Mechanic’ Dad; judging by the fact that her sponsor/employer has a full time job awaiting her once she passes her exams, this young woman will be moving ahead with a great career start.
Teacher Rod Kitt introduced Kelsey as one of 12 students currently registered in the Secondary School Apprentice Program in SD 53. Students must have a certified tradesperson sponsor them and must also complete 480 hours of paid apprenticeship hours within 90 days of graduation. Upon successful completion, the student become eligible for a financial boost of $1,000.
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School District 53 Board Meeting February 25
The Administration Report contained six sections dedicated to local initiatives the most prominent being ‘Foundation Skills Assessment’ which has three students who have excelled in reading, writing and numeracy.
There is a $5,000 Ministry of Education grant for rural districts to develop local solutions to improve student access opportunities for areas with no post-secondary institutions or for areas with no local support for students wishing to pursue their career interests.
The February 17th Aboriginal Education Advisory Council meeting was hosted by the Osoyoos Band at Tuc-el-Nuit Elementary School. The group is working on several projects and events, among them are a Culture Camp March 4th , 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm to be held in the Similkameen and the OIB.
There will be a Pow Wow April 10th and 11th at Osoyoos Secondary.
Aboriginal Graduations will be held in the Frank Venables Auditorium June 16th this year.
The Ministry of Education has been working with districts to upgrade their computer networks and SD 53 will be receiving $50,000.
New Policies have been passed one of which will have an impact on some students. Smoking or using tobacco or electronic smoking products will be prohibited on or in any school property this includes all buildings and vehicles owned by SD 53. This edict includes ‘holding’ lighted tobacco.
There is now School Trustee Code of Conduct This three page document is comprehensive and is designed to ensure that all Trustees perform their duties in the manner approved by the Board and provides for sanctions should a Trustee violate provisions. Each Trustee will be required to sign the document which will become part of their personal documentation.
Finance reports show some hard work and a successful effort to operate in the black for this school year. The Amended budget will total $27,690,353.00 with a Capital fund surplus of $23,745.00.
The province’s direction to reduce school budgets by $29,000,000.00 will possibly amount to SD 53 having to reduce spending by $129,000.00. Not a lot but something will have to be cut; lets hope there is no impact on the students.
The Trustees have been receiving the same annual remuneration for several years. This is hard work and compared to the provincial average of $12,878.00, our Trustees receive $11,602.00. It was recommended that for the 2015/2016 school year that the trustees receive an increase pegged to the Consumer Price Index; this would amount to $232.00.
Letter of congratulation: Board Chair Marieze Tarr received a letter from Minister Fassbender congratulating SD 53 staff on reaching a 6 year completion rate for Aboriginal students of 75%. The province falls a bit behind at 62%.
Board report and picture – Pat Hampson