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Synopsis of Board meeting
Posted on 2020-02-19 08:00:00 +0000 UTC
The Board of Education of School District No. 83 (North Okanagan-Shuswap) held its regular board meeting at Pleasant Valley Secondary School on Tuesday, Feb. 18.
| Draft Calendar: The Board approved the Draft Calendar for September 2020-21. This calendar will be circulated for feedback from stakeholder groups. There will also be a survey coming out for those wishing to provide input can send an email to egorman@sd83.bc.ca. SEE DRAFT CALENDAR HERE and GO TO SURVEY HERE |
| LRFP Remove Option C-3 for Enderby Zone: The Board passed a motion removing option C3 as being under consideration in the Enderby zone. This option was that the Board standardize Enderby and Grindrod schools at K-5 and 6-12. Indepth look at local 7-12 high schools: The Board also requested the Superintendent prepare a report on current learning opportunities and school culture at A.L. Fortune and Eagle River, with a focus on Grades 7-8, to include, but not be limited to: timetables, campus supervision, staffing, facilities and equipment, programs of choice, courses, and resources. |
| Committee of the Whole Meeting: The Board will be holding a Committee of the Whole meeting on Wednesday, March 4 at 4:15 p.m. at the DESC to reflect on the Long Range Facility Plan sessions thus far, and to take a look the Superintendent’s Report on Achievement, and the climate action belief statement. |
| LRFP Recommendations from NOSTA: NOSTA Acting President Graham Gomme, Past President Brenda O’Dell, and teachers Justine Gatrell, Colin Macdonald, and George Richard presented trustees with a report on NOSTA’s recommendations for the Board’s Long Range Facilities Plan. READ MORE HERE |
| District Literacy Plan: Literacy Helping Teacher Jennifer Kelly presented the Board with information on the district’s multi-level support literacy program as well as a look at the data from the district’s literacy intervention program, which has been in existence for nine years. She showed research which charted that the Board’s support of the district’s literacy intervention program has resulted in over 300 of the district’s ‘most struggling emerging readers’ now becoming competent readers. She asked that the Board consider supporting the program so it can be offered in every elementary school in the district. READ MORE HERE |
| Music Program Update: District Music Vice-Principal Michelle Reed updated the Board on some latest research showing why music education helps students with numeracy and literacy (See PowerPoint Here). She also shared highlights of the winter concerts, and discussed a new barcode system to track the district’s instruments, the challenges of recruiting a full complement of music teachers and music teachers on call, developing improved consistent assessment practices, working on a provincial Indigenous music project, and the work being done to celebrate Music Monday in May. READ MORE HERE |
| Livestreaming Board Meetings: The Board received a report on the potential to livestream Board meetings and is now asking staff to come up with a potential implementation timeframe for a trial period. In the first report it was determined that Microsoft Teams software, as well as trustee and staff laptop cameras and microphones, could be utilized to livestream the meeting. Additional microphones and at least one wide-angle camera would be needed as well as a district staff member to act as a host and facilitator of the webcast. The report estimates it would be between $1,000 and $4,000 to implement. |
| Monitoring Board Performance: The Board of Education discussed two draft documents which they are considering using to help with an annual review of Board performance. They also decided to contact BCSTA for feedback before finalizing the review process. The Board policy is here Monitoring Board Performance and the draft survey can be viewed here Board Evaluation Stakeholder Input . |
| Inashiki Exchange Program: The Board rescinded a motion approved at the Nov. 19, 2019 meeting which stated the Board support the Inashiki exchange as any other school trip, which are self-funded. The Board rescinded this motion in order for the Budget Committee to be able to fully consider the exchange. |
| Superintendent Announcements: Superintendent of Schools/CEO Peter Jory reported to the Board that PVSS student Aidan Eglin, who won gold in App Design at the National Skills Canada competition last year will be trying to defend his title again this year. Jory also reported on the successful math games nights being held at various elementary schools with District Numeracy Principal Val Edgell, about a few of the activities planned in the school district for Pink Shirt Day on February 26, and about the new collaboratively-instructed Music Theatre course that will be offered at PVSS in September. He also mentioned that the long range facility plan sessions (18 so far) have been time consuming but very rich in content. “I appreciate all of the people who have come out and shared their view points with the Board. We’ve learned a lot during this process.” |
| Student Government: Sebastian Nyeste updated the Board on a survey which the student governance class is putting together to learn more about what facilities/recreational opportunities students would like to see at school and in Salmon Arm. He asked trustees to let him know if there was anything they would like included on the survey. He also noted that several students will be attending the Lt. Governer’s visit in Kelowna. |
| Field Trip Request: The Board approved in principal a Shuswap Middle School field trip to Quebec in May 2020. This trip is for Grade 8 French Immersion students. READ MORE HERE |
| MyEd BC Implementation: District Principal and project lead for the MyEd BC implementation Reid Findlay reported to trustees that the District’s data conversion was completed over Winter Break and work has now commenced to data validation and data remediation work. Findlay noted that it was anticipated this changeover would be a large undertaking and this has proven to be true, perhaps even more so than anticipated. |
| Letter of Thanks: The Board will be sending a letter of thanks to those responsible for organizing and running the annual Larch Hills Pirate Loppet. |
| Quarterly Financial Report: Secretary-Treasurer Alanna Cameron presented the quarterly financial report (ending Dec. 31, 2019) to the trustees for their information. SEE REPORT HERE |
| Guiding Principles: The Board approved the 2020-21 Budget Guiding Principles. READ MORE HERE |
| Code of Conduct for Spectators: The Board gave second and final reading to Policy 280 – Code of Conduct for Spectators. READ POLICY HERE |
Dates to Remember
Friday, February 21 – Non-instructional Day (regional)Wednesday, March 4 – Board Committee of the Whole Meeting at DESC at 4:15 p.m.Tuesday, March 10 – Board of Education Meeting at DESC at 6 p.m.Friday, March 13 – Last Day before Spring Vacation (March 16-27)Spring Vacation March 16-27Monday, March 30 – Schools re-open