Random Image

School Board Meeting Minutes April 15th, 2008

MISSION PUBLIC SCHOOLS
BOARD OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES
2008 04 15, 7:00pm
Silverdale Elementary School

Minutes
Board of education meeting (open to the public)

MEMBERS PRESENT
Board Chair Carol Hamilton
Vice-Chair Cindy Miller
Trustee Shelley Clarkson
Trustee Pam Alexis
Trustee Randy Cairns               
Superintendent of Schools Frank Dunham
Assistant Superintendent Brenda Lightburn
Secretary-Treasurer Ray Velestuk
Executive Assistant Paula Melvin

Presentation: Heritage Park Secondary School

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting of the Board of Education of School District #75 (Mission) was called to order at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, April 15, 2008, by Chair Hamilton.  The Board acknowledged that this meeting is being held on Sto:lo Traditional Territory. 
 
A presentation was given by Silverdale Elementary students and secondary students from Riverside and Summit Learning received their scholarships awards.

2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

MOTION
That the Agenda be approved as presented
CARRIED

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION
That the Board of Education Meeting minutes of March 11, 2008 be approved as presented.
CARRIED     

4. BRING FORWARD FROM THE CLOSED MEETING

No items brought forward.

5.  EDUCATION COMMITTEE

Field Trip Application

(1) That the Board of Education approves in principle Heritage Park Secondary School’s application for 35 students, grades 10, 11 and 12, to travel to the United Kingdom during spring break 2010, to participate in the Senior Boys’ Rugby tour.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

The Board thanked staff for providing this application well in advance of the trip.  The field trip application is approved in principle to allow for fundraising, however, this item will be brought back for final approval in October 2009 along with the itinerary.

Board/Authority Authorized Courses and Equine Academy

(2) That the Board of Education approves the following courses in accordance with the attached:

And

That the Board of Education approves the establishment of an Equine Studies Academy at Hatzic Secondary School.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

The Board and district staff is pleased to see AVID in all three secondary schools, as well as the balance in the AVID curriculum between educational skills, developing social responsibility and transition into post-secondary education.

The Equine courses were amended following discussion at Education Committee and the Board meeting in March 2008.

As the district moves forward it will be increasingly challenging to cope with declining enrolment and offer the breadth of programs for students at the secondary level.  The district will need to ensure enrollment in all programs in order to support them. 

6.  DPAC Update     

DPAC will continue to ask PAC’s affected by the school closures to defer PAC and SPC elections until September 2008.  DPAC will also be deferring their election until that time.

DPAC is holding a meeting for all PAC Chairs for a meet and greet night at Hatzic Secondary on May 1, 2008 at 7:00 pm.

Information regarding the Sheryl Samodien Parent Leadership Award has been distributed to all PAC’s.  Nominees will be recognized at the May 5th meeting.  Trustees and district staff are invited to attend the dinner and meeting.

DPAC has released allocated funds from the last school year to help support healthy schools in all Mission schools.  Each PAC will be reporting back to DPAC on how the funding was used at their school.

BCCPAC’s Spring Conference and AGM will be held May 1-4, 2008 in Richmond.  DPAC Chair, Shelley Carter, is attending the Budget Working Committee meetings as DPAC representative, and, the next DPAC meeting is due to take place on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Board of Education office

7.  Business Committee

Community Use of Schools

Following the decision to close three schools at the end of this school year, the Board will need to begin discussions regarding the future use of these buildings.  The current district office facility is challenging and requires some additional meeting space.  Fraserview Elementary is a viable option and would allow the current facility to be used for other community uses.  Furthermore, Fraserview will be used as a temporary site for technology staff currently based at Facilities and for Riverside staff while the existing Facilities building is renovated.

The Ministry has first right of refusal to school buildings, followed by the District of Mission.  District staff will begin working through this process with the Ministry and District.  In the meantime, the Board will give consideration to short-term leases.  District staff recommended that consideration is only given to interested groups who are able to occupy the space on an ongoing, daily basis which would ensure the security of our buildings.  Anyone interested in leasing space should submit an initial letter of enquiry for consideration by the Board.  This item will be brought back to Business Committee in May.

Elementary Schools Transition

At the Board meeting in March 2008, correspondence was shared from Ferndale Parent Advisory Council regarding a request for Out-of-Catchment transportation to be made available to displaced Ferndale students.  In the Board’s current policy transportation is the responsibility of the parent should a student cross boundary to another school. 

Transportation options being considered for 2008/09 are:- remain as we are, provide transportation for eligible riders thus reducing the number of routes, or keep the current level of service but charge a nominal fee to offset costs.  This item will be discussed at Business Committee in May.

  Delegation from Durieu Resident (Madeline Engh)

A presentation was made regarding the proposal by the Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) to develop a water system from wells adjacent to Durieu Elementary school.  FVRD recently installed a new well and as a result some water levels in wells in the local neighborhood temporarily dropped.

The Board thanked the community member for her presentation.

Policy Update

The following policies have been revised to ensure alignment with each other.  In addition, they have been formatted to reflect the proposed new policy manual structure:- District Code of Conduct Policy, Student Conduct Standards and Behaviour Management Procedure, Respectful Schools Procedure and Respectful Workplace Procedure.

The Field Trips Procedure has been revised to reflect changes in legislation effective July 1, 2008 and the mandatory use of booster seats.

The Extended or International Travel Procedure has been revised to reflect a change in timeline for the approval of the field trip application from 3 months to 6 months prior to the trip.

All the above have been brought forward as an example of how the revised manual will look in terms of separating policy and procedure and presenting it a more user-friendly way.  District staff anticipates that the work will be complete in September 2008.

8. Trustees Report

Trustees each reported on activities they have participated in on behalf of the Board of Education and School District.

Chair Hamilton congratulated and thanked Trustee Clarkson for her nine years of service as a School District Trustee.  Trustee Clarkson was honored at the BC School Trustees Association Annual General Meeting held earlier this month.

9. QUESTION PERIOD

Two questions were asked – one regarding the Elementary Schools Transition and the other regarding Community Use of Schools.

10. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION
That the meeting adjourn - Time 8:25 pm.
CARRIED