LRFP update and more!

After a presentation on the latest enrolment projections, the Board passed a recommendation from the Salmon Arm Working Group to extend the timeline for making any school re-configuration changes, at its virtual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 18.

Assistant Superintendent Ryan Brennan updated trustees on the latest enrolment projections and presented graphs which displayed the effects on school capacity, depending on the various Long Range Facility Plan (LRFP) options. He noted that COVID has changed the landscape and although there are some schools where capacity is an issue and needs to be addressed, but overall, it is not as imminent as before, “What will happen after COVID? That’s the million dollar question,” he commented.
See Graphs Here

After Brennan’s presentation Trustee Marianne VanBuskirk, who is the chair of the Salmon Arm LRFP Working Group, put forward the recommendation from the working group to amend and extend the group’s terms of reference, adding an additional year of planning. This recommendation was passed by the Board. This amendment means no changes will be made to school configuration for the upcoming (2022-23) school year. “There is more work to do and we just haven’t had a chance to do it all,” she said.

Superintendent’s Report
In her monthly report to the Board, Superintendent Donna Kriger welcomed everyone back to school and a happy new year. She started her report saying she was very appreciative of the support local communities provide to our schools and students. A case in point, she reported is the Bargain Bin in Armstrong which recently donated $13,000 to the Armstrong and Enderby school food programs and provided $16,000 in bursaries for students pursuing post secondary in health care! “Such a gracious donation to support our students.”
READ MORE HERE

Two Floods at Schools
Kriger noted that two schools, Hillcrest and Falkland, had floods over the holidays. She recognized the excellent work by the Operations department, as well as school principals Gord Ritchie and Shelly Cull and each of their staff, for their immediate help to mitigate the damage and get schools ready for the return of students.

COVID Update
Kriger updated the Board on the COVID situation in schools. She noted that first week back members of the District Learning Team worked to develop a continuity of learning plan to support schools. The plan outlines the curricular priorities, expectations for supporting teachers teaching on call (TTOCs), how to support students with multi-day absences, and direction for students with diverse abilities as well as supporting Indigenous students. The plan has been shared with the North Okanagan-Shuswap Teachers’ Association (NOSTA) and has received their support/approval.

She noted that with the rapid transmission of the Omicron variant, the way contract tracing and school exposure reporting was being done has changed. Now school districts will be reporting daily attendance for students, and staff to the Ministry. The district is tracking “activity signals” and will notify Interior Health when it reaches a certain level. This information is also being used to predict the possibility of staffing shortages. Kriger thanked District Principal Reid Findlay and Manager of Information Technology Stephen Ollinger, who have taken on the “lion’s share” of this work in addition to their regular workload. She noted that on Tuesday Interior Health was notified that student absences in multiple schools were close or at the threshold for reporting.

She also added that the district is expecting a shipment of rapid antigen tests from the Ministry, which staff are to use when they are symptomatic. She said the District’s Operations Department will distribute them to schools.

Functional Closure at Armstrong/Activities outside of District suspended
Kriger updated the Board on the functional closure at Armstrong Elementary, and a transportation issue where, due to a lack of bus drivers, extra curricular activities outside the school district have been suspended.

She explained there are three types of closures – student illness, staff shortages, or suspension of transportation. She told the Board that at the moment extra curriculars outside of the district have had to be suspended because of a lack of available bus drivers, reporting there are just enough drivers for regular routes. The Transportation Department is hopeful the number of available drivers will improve by February and that extra curriculars outside the school district can resume.

Kriger said currently at AES there is a staff shortage, with some staff ill as well as some who have filed an unsafe working conditions claim with WorkSafe BC. She noted all students and employees have the right to a safe place to work and learn. A process is now being followed and a site evaluation is being completed. “I apologize for the hardship this has caused families.”

Kriger concluded her update saying that she thinks many people have asked themselves when will this be over! “When COVID started, we thought we were in a sprint. What we’ve come to discover that instead, we are in a marathon.”

“When this is over I want strengthened relationships, not fractured. There are better days coming. Let’s continue to find the common good in each other.” Kriger said as school resumed she made a point to reach out to all the school staff, custodial, and bus drivers, to thank them for making connections with students and working to keep schools open every day, describing them as “heroes”.

At the end of the meeting several trustees re-iterated Kriger’s thanks to staff, reporting they too wanted to add public recognition for the good work being done, and that some are taking totally uncalled for flack and negativity from some community members. “They are making the best out of a not so good situation and doing the best they can,” commented Chair Amanda Krebs.

Supporting Kids in Math
Kriger told the Board about a math intervention program at Len Wood Middle School (LWM). She added that principals Denise Moore (LWM) and Chelsea Prince (Pleasant Valley Secondary) and their staff identified Math 10 as a barrier to graduation, and often limiting a student’s educational choices later on. With help from the District Math Team, Len Wood established innovative and flexible math intervention groups, which are showing some very good early results.
READ MORE HERE

Capstone Projects
Kriger also highlighted to trustees a recent capstone project under way by Salmon Arm Secondary students Miki Hatton and Oriah Ritchie, who are attempting to raise $5,000 to help women in Ethiopia. The two have partnered with HOPE International to complete their project. “They are looking to help provide financial literacy training as well as to offer loans to help women support themselves and their families.” As many know, capstone projects are a requirement for graduation. The capstone project gives students an opportunity to showcase and celebrate their strengths, passions, and learning journey using an area(s) of interest as the basis for the project. It is a way for students to reflect on their development in the core competency areas (Communication/ Thinking/ Personal and Social) and how these competencies impact personal career-life journey, aspirations and possible post-graduation plans.
READ MORE HERE

Musical Performances
“It is no secret we have a very robust music program in SD83,” Kriger said to trustees as she updated them on the impact of COVID-19 on the upcoming musical performances at district high schools. She reported that District Vice Principal of Music Michelle Reed shared that PVSS ran their musical of Golly Gee Whiz for a student audience while SAS’ performances of 67 Cinderellas and Back to the 80’s will also be just for a small student audience. A.L. Fortune’s performance of Matilda has been postponed until the end of February. “It is disappointing for students in the performing arts not be be able to have public performances, however, we are proud of the talent and dedication to their passion.”

Seamless Day Pilot Programs
The Seamless Day Program has officially opened at Silver Creek as of January 10, Kriger told trustees. “This unique provincial program that provides before and/or after school care for Kindergarten students and other school-aged students, as space allows. Thank you to the entire school team along with District Principal Jen Findlay for helping to make this program a reality.”

Organizational Efficiency
Kriger noted one of the Board’s goals in the Strategic Plan is organizational efficiency. She updated the Board that, under the leadership of  Director Carol-Ann Leidloff and District Principal Jo McKenna, the Inclusive Education Department has committed to a series of internal audits of student files. “In addition to testing SD83’s readiness for external audit, the process is intended to reveal strengths and stretches in our file management processes and identify specific areas for training and professional development. The data collected from these reviews will serve as baseline information to guide the Inclusive Education Department’s goal to align case management practices across schools.”
She added that Leidloff is also surveying all parents of students who have a designation. “The purpose of the survey is to identify areas around their child’s Individual Education Plan (IEP) and programs that are working well for parents, to understand areas that are challenging, and where we can improve service.”

Indigenous Education, Shuswap Food Action Society and ShuBoxes
“District Principal Mishel Quaal and her team are working on building positive family connections by organizing an event that promotes health and wellness.” She told trustees that there were some transportation challenges west of Salmon Arm and Mishel has also been working diligently with the Transportation Department and members of the Indigenous Bands, to resolve these. “I’m always appreciative of the collaborative spirit Mishel brings to her work.” Kriger also mentioned the collaboration between the Indigenous Ed department and Shuswap Food Action Society to get high quality, locally-produced food to families. “These food boxes are called a ShuBox.”
READ MORE HERE

Opioid Overdose Prevention
The Board gave second and final reading to Policy 460 – Opioid Overdose Prevention. In June 2020 the policy committee received a request to consider developing a policy regarding the distribution of Naloxone kits in SD83 schools. The policy committee in consultation with SD83’s Health and Safety Coordinator developed the policy. Administrative Procedures to go with the policy will now be developed by staff.

Child Care Policy
The Board also gave second and final reading to Policy 280 – Child Care. A Child Care Policy template was presented to the Policy Committee in April 2021 as the result of amendments to Section 168 of the School Act. The issuance of a new childcare Ministerial Order resulted in Boards of Education being required to revise their policies to reflect the changes. After consultation with staff and the review of numerous samples of Child Care policies from across the province the policy was developed.

Standing item on Board Agenda – Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Trustee Marianne VanBuskirk presented some information to trustees asking them to think about adding a standing item to the Board agenda, featuring topics around equity, diversity and inclusion. VanBuskirk originally broached the idea at the Board’s November meeting after attending a Sexual Orientation Gender Identity (SOGI) awareness session for teachers led by Amy Witt, SD83 SOGI/Sexual Health helping teacher. Since that time she met with Witt, Director of Instruction Carol-Ann Leidloff, Inclusive Education District Principal Jo McKenna, and Indigenous Education District Principal Mishel Quaal to further refine the idea. She added she was bringing this forward as food for thought as she knows that in order to add a standing item to the agenda there is a procedural bylaw process. She will now consult with Secretary Treasurer Dale Culler to get her request formalized into a motion for an upcoming meeting.

Land Acquisition Process
Secretary Treasurer Dale Culler reported that he outlined the steps in the land acquisition process to the Board at the earlier in-camera meeting, and he then summarized them at the open meeting as well. He said he reviewed the sections of the School Act with trustees which pertain to acquisition/disposal of land and that give the Board the authority to purchase land. They discussed process and how the school district would have to include the Ministry’s Capital Branch. He noted it would have to be included in the Board’s five year capital plan under the expansion program. Specific information on this process can be read here. Also, you can check out the Capital Planning – Province of B.C. website.

Update on Inclusive Education
Director of Instruction Carol-Ann Leidloff updated trustees about the Inclusive Education department including work on core values and vision, data on mental health, information on two grants, and a graph showing numbers of students with designations over time (2016 to the current school year).

She reported a significant amount of work has gone into the draft vision and core values statement. The next steps are that it will go back to itinerant staff and DPAC for feedback and then will be further refined. Once this is complete, Leidloff commented they will begin work on a belief statement for the department.

Leidloff also updated trustees on current data about mental health. She noted that there are increasing rates of diagnosed and self-reported mental health wellness issues with students, particularly anxiety and depression. There is also a reported decrease in sense of belonging, and increase in sleep and nutrition concerns. She noted the Ministry has provided school districts with two grants this year to help address these concerns. The first is a COVID Recovery Plan Grant (one time funding) and the other is an Early Actions Initiative Grant (formerly Mental Health in Schools grant) which total $137,886.

The grant money is being spent on resources and programs to help support students, including a substance misuse prevention program, and mental health programs such as Open Parachute. Funds are also going to support additional counselling and social work time.
READ PRESENTATION HERE

Bus ride times for students
Trustee Marty Gibbons raised the question about long bus rides for some students, and wanted to bring attention to this issue. He noted having schools closer to where the students live is a fix, “but that is a debate that continues”. He pointed out the impacts on students having to travel over an hour twice a day, what they miss out on because they have to be on the bus, and the environmental impact. “I hope that administration and leadership team is looking into options for these students. There has got be more options maybe EOP, expanding electives, or joint sports teams. I’m asking our senior leadership to understand this issue and look for creative solutions.”

Bruns agreed saying the district needs to think outside of the box, that could lead to potential wins for the district, students and even the environment. “Perhaps we can do something to secure good internet to those more far flung areas of the district.”

Trustee Continuing Education
Gibbons also asked for clarification around trustee continuing education options. “Does any continuing education opportunities that are not B.C. School Trustees’ Association (BCSTA) require Board permission?” This will be looked into and information brought back.

Finance & Facilities/Audit Committee
Chair Krebs reported at its most recent meeting the committee went through the district financials, which looked good and in line with budget.

Labour Relations Committee
Committee chair Bruns reported the committee discussed vaccination updates and the latest status of local teacher bargaining.

Committee of the Whole
Chair Krebs noted the next committee of the whole meeting will be on Friday, January 28 at 4 p.m. Under discussion will be the Board’s amended budget. This meeting will be recorded and posted on the school district website.

BC School Trustees’ Association (BCSTA) Update
BCSTA rep trustee Tennile Lachmuth reported Provincial Council will take place on February 24 and she will be attending virtually. She added the Thompson Okanagan Branch meeting is being organized for March, it will be virtual.

BCPSEA Update
Trustee Bruns reported he attended an online meeting with B.C. Public Schools’ Employer Association last Thursday. The meeting focussed on their annual budget and he noted the budget was very similar to previous year, with an increase to accommodate the cost of bargaining.

Upcoming Meeting
The next regular meeting of the Board will be on February 15 at 6 p.m.