Random Image

School Board Meeting Minutes May 20th, 2008

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

Minutes
Board of education meeting (open to the public)

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

Presentations

  1. A slide show presentation was given by students from Hatzic Secondary who participated in the Habitat for Humanity Global Village field trip to Honduras, to assist the local community in building basic housing.
  2. Dawn Dixon from Hillside Elementary was presented with the Sharyl Samodien Parent Leadership Award.

1. CALL TO ORDER

The meeting of the Board of Education of School District #75 (Mission) was called to order at 7:25 pm on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, by Chair Hamilton. 

2. ADOPTION OF AGENDA

MOTION
That the Agenda be approved with the addition of the following items: - Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Project and Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Project.
CARRIED 

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

MOTION
That the Board of Education Meeting minutes of April 15, 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 the following field trip applications in accordance with the attached:

CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

The Board requested that the students participating in the Canadian Student Leadership Conference in September/October, attend the Board meeting in November to share their experiences from the trip.
     
At the Board meeting in March 2008, Heritage Park Secondary School’s application for 16 students to travel to Japan, June 28 to July 12, 2008, received tentative Board approval subject to the Board receiving a copy of the itinerary for the Oyama city home stay.  A copy of the itinerary is included with the agenda.

School Completion Certificate Program

(2) That the Board of Education approves the course codes for students on a School Completion Certificate Program, in accordance with the attached.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

The Board approved the School Completion Certificates Policy in May 2007.  The approval of the course codes is a formality.

2008/09 School Growth Plans 

(3) That the Board of Education approves the School Growth Plans for the 2008/09 school year, as presented.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

Trustees provided highlights from each of their school growth plans.  The Board thanked staff, parents and students for their involvement in completing these plans.

2008/09 School Calendar

(4) That the Board of Education approves the regular school calendar and Summit Learning Centre calendar for the 2008/09 school year, in accordance with the attached.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

Individualized Education Plan (IEP) Project

(5) That the Board of Education approves the facilitation of the IEP Research Project in accordance with the attached.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

This item was discussed at Education Committee.  The purpose of the project is to look at the content of IEP’s for students with different special needs across the province.

Settlement Workers in Schools (SWIS) Project

(6) That the Board of Education supports, in principle, an application for Mission Public Schools to become a part of the Settlement Workers in Schools program.
CARRIED (MILLER/ALEXIS)

Following the announcement of federal funding to the province in November 2006, the Ministry of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Education have developed a strategy for the implementation of a school based approach to deliver settlement services for newcomer families with school-aged children upon their arrival to a British Columbia school district.

The primary focus of the school-based settlement program is to assist parents and their children with their first year settlement needs.  The emphasis is on facilitation of settlement and integration of newcomer families through referrals and cross-cultural education.

It is anticipated that the school district would seek a collaborative partnership with the Mission Community Services Society to undertake this work.

A full business plan will be brought back to Business Committee in June.

Elementary Schools Transition

Elementary principals continue to meet weekly to work through the transition plan.  Parent Advisory Council Presidents have attended some of these meetings.  Students will be moving between schools on June 9th and 10th which have been designated as transition days.  In addition, district and school staff has been working on the library transition.

The Board thanked staff, parents and students for all their efforts in working through the transition process


6.  DPAC Update     

DPAC thanked all the Trustees and staff who attended the presentations for the Sharyl Samodien Parent Leadership Award.  This year DPAC received 6 nominations.  The nominees were JoAnne McGurk and Monica Stuart from Ferndale Elementary, Alyson Cuthbertson from Silverdale Elementary, Cyndie Buker from Hatzic Elementary and Loreene Ravenhill from Mission Secondary.  This year’s recipient is Dawn Dixon from Hillside Elementary.

Two parents attended the BCCPAC Spring Conference and AGM held earlier this month in Richmond.

Gaming reports are now being accepted and the deadline is June 30, 2008.

DPAC’s next general meeting is Monday, June 2, 2008 at 7:00 pm at the Board of Education office.

7.  Business Committee

Delegation from Ferndale Elementary Parent

A presentation was made by Louise Rempel regarding the closure of Ferndale Elementary.

Transportation Update

In preparation for the 2008/09 school year, Manager of Operations, Bert Bastiaansen, has been working on developing routing strategies in line with our current transportation policy.  Currently, our annual transportation costs are $100,000.00 more than the Ministry funded amount.

Staff will do more extensive research around providing a more cost efficient transportation system.

The Board thanked Manager of Operations Bastiannsen for his presentation.

  Strategic Facilities Plan

A proposal from Bill Low & Associates Management Ltd. was requested by district staff to carry out a boundary review and the development of a long-term Strategic Facilities Plan.

With regard to the Riverside project, the district has not yet received final approval from the Ministry.  Once the project announcement is made, district staff will begin the process to sell the existing Riverside site.

The Board Chair will contact UCFV President Bassford to enquire about UCFV’s future plans in Mission given their pending University status.

Building Envelope Remediation Program

The Building Envelope Program, funded by the Ministry of Education and established to ensure the health and safety of occupants, assists provincially funded school districts with the identification and remediation of causes and damage from water ingress.  This program was announced a number of years ago and applies to schools built after 1984.  The latest addition to Edwin S. Richards Elementary falls under these guidelines.

Designs for the repair work at Edwin S. Richards are complete and the project is out to tender.  It is anticipated that work will begin in July 2008 and last for approximately one year.  A press release will be sent out to the community.

2008/09 Budget Update

The funding changes announced last year have had a considerable impact on planning secondary schools, as funding is now allocated on a full time equivalent basis (for secondary).  In consideration of this, the district has taken a cautious approach in calculating enrolment projections.

Through spending reductions, primarily in staffing, the district has virtually eliminated the projected $2.4 million deficit in the 2008-09 operating budget. 

8. Trustees Report

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

Superintendent Dunham thanked district staff for co-coordinating the district scholarship process on behalf of Mission students.

9. QUESTION PERIOD

Two questions were asked regarding the Building Envelope Remediation Program and Transportation Update.

10. ADJOURNMENT

MOTION
That the meeting adjourns at 9:05 pm.
CARRIED