Annual Education Results – Over the past five years, data
from provincial achievement tests (PATs), diploma exams (DIPs) and satisfaction
surveys shows us that our division has been on a constant level of improvement.
Highlights include a 15% overall increase in student achievement at the PAT
level; 2012 is the first year that our Grade 12 students surpassed the
provincial average for diplomas; and, high school completion is up 7%. The
Communications Committee will be working on further promotion of these great
results from our students and staff.
Goodfish Lake busing – a meeting has been set for October 18
with federal and provincial government representatives, as well as St. Paul
Education, Aspen View School Division and the Whitefish (Goodfish) Lake council
to discuss the transportation issues in the area.
Enrolment – At the September 30th deadline for enrolment,
the division is down 25 students in budget projections. This shortfall results
in $250,000 less for the division budget.
Policy Review – Trustees reviewed policies pertaining to the
role of the trustee and trustee code of ethics.
Two Hills Outreach – the Two Hills Mennonite Liaison
Committee will be working with Central Office staff to examine other possible
options for an outreach program, if the need warrants it.
Superintendent Report:
- bus survey – there has been a delay in compiling the bus survey results due to staff transition; however, a report on the survey from last spring will be made at the November or December Board meeting.
- Facebook – Administrators and the school staff designate for entering Facebook information will meet on October 19. From there, a couple of schools will pilot the use of school sites for one-way communication only, followed by all schools going online thereafter. The Board will pursue a one-month campaign on the reason for using Facebook as another tool to inform our stakeholders.
- Mr. Brodziak also reported on items pertaining to student records storage challenges, an update on a new digital citizenship program, an update on the School Logic system, and schools balancing the number of personal items in classrooms with custodial time.
Financial Report – the Board approved a $240,000 budget
increase to replace the accounting/payroll system for Central Office. The
existing provider surprised the division with an insurmountable monthly service
charge.
Capital Projects – Racette and F.G. Miller modernizations
are on schedule – Two Hills Mennonite School tenders were delayed to next week
due to some drawing changes.
Zone 2/3 – the Edwin Parr award criteria is being re-examined
for the first time since the award was created in 1962; – Elk Island Public
school division has GPS units on all of its buses as well as scanner cards for
students, so that parents can check to ensure their students are on the bus.
Meeting with the Minister – Education Minister Jeff Johnson
met with our regional boards on October 9 – the Education Act will be
re-introduced in the fall session – this Minister is stressing “equity and
accessibility” for all students across the province – the Minister is also
exploring a new funding formula for capital projects.
Organizational Meeting – The Board held its organizational
meeting prior to the October Board meeting. Trustee Maureen Miller remains as
Chair and Trustee Heather Starosielski remains as Vice Chair.
