Board of Education Highlights
Report from Monday, September 24, 2018
The Board of Education Highlights provide updates on presentations and decisions made during the Board Meetings. For more information, please visit our District website where you can view the full agenda and video stream of the meeting: www.sd61.bc.ca/board-of-education/meetings/
Board of Education Highlights – PDF
District Presentations
Former Superintendent Piet Langstraat accepted a parting gift on behalf of the Board of Education. Board Chair Edith Loring-Kuhanga recognized all the accomplishments in the District under his leadership.
Facilities Summer Projects
The Facilities Department provided the Board with an update of the various projects and upgrades that took place over the summer. The projects include but are not limited to water fountain replacements, installation of bottle fillers, resurfacing of fields and parking lots, and an addition of new irrigations systems, boilers and heating control upgrades.
For more information about all the projects completed over the summer, please visit: https://www.sd61.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/sites/91/2018/09/Board-Update-Summer-2018-Projects.pdf
Reporting of Absences
The Board is directing the Superintendent to ensure all withdrawals and absences of students with designations are recorded appropriately in schools. This information would be shared on the student report card with the parents. Secondly, the Board voted in support of a monthly report that will be provided to trustees on how many designated students are excluded from participating in schools when the decision for being excluded is an unusual circumstance outside of the student’s Individual Education Plan or daily plan.
Annual Audit of Space in Schools
The Board is directing the Superintendent to survey schools every November to identify how space is being utilized in each school. The plan is to identify any space pressures, and the use of resource, sensory and breakout rooms. This will allow the District to confirm all schools have access to similar spaces and that they are utilizing these spaces to their fullest potential.
Electronic Software
The Board voted in support of adopting new electronic cloud-based board management software. The digital services will replace manual functions and paper-based processes. It will give trustees the capacity to download and review agenda items on an electronic device rather than having to print the materials. As well, it will assist in meeting logistics, session and publishing management. The software also includes a video module that will give the District the capacity to stream meetings in real time to members of the public.
Advocacy
The Board accepted an updated report from the Advocacy Committee which focuses on building advocacy action plans for the Children in Care and Mental Health Literacy and Mental Wellness initiatives.
Boundary Review Update
Administration provided the Board with a public engagement timeline for a District-wide catchment boundary review. As student enrolment continues to grow, the review will ensure schools have the appropriate learning space needed for students in the next two, five, ten years and beyond.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lisa McPhail
Communications & Community Engagement
Superintendent’s Office
Office: 250.475.4103