Trustee Report - January 2013

School Calendar – a draft calendar for the 2013-2014 school has been created and is being distributed to school councils and school staff for feedback - since professional development speakers have been booked for two days at the end of August, school will not start until after the Labour Day long weekend. There is also a proposal to move spring break later into April.

Infrastructure Maintenance Renewal (IMR) – the Board passed the proposed IMR (school repairs) list. Trustees discussed the $80,000 roof repair at Heinsburg School and asked for further investigation on more temporary measures since enrolment is at a historical low of 97 students for a K-12 school.

Two Hills Mennonite sod turning - tenders closed January 17 - want to choose a date that is closer to the actual turning of the sod - tentatively set for March 22.

Policy Review 11 & 12 – trustees discussed policies regarding board delegation of authority and the role of the superintendent.

Questions raised from St. Paul Elementary School Council:

- School-Based Budgets (SBB) – why were they formed and what is their purpose? – site-based management became popular in the mid-‘90s when school boards regionalized – some boards decentralized every budgetary decision, but SPERD has made a balance by decentralizing everything except staffing and school maintenance decisions -  belief that those who are closest to the action should be making those decisions - each school has different needs, but there are also bulk purchase agreements when required (ie. paper purchases).

- corporate sponsorship – is there a division policy regarding placing corporate names on donated items? – no division policy – would recommend that schools considering advertising corporate sponsorship outside of traditional areas (ie. programs, scoreclocks, etc.) should check with their school council and Central Office

- budget 2011-12 – started the year with a large deficit projected; how did we end up with a surplus? – the budgeting process begins with a lot of unknowns – we revise them as we gather more information  - a $500,000+ deficit (1% of overall budget) was projected and ended up with a $200,000+ surplus – a variation of up to 5% is to be expected – factors such as increased enrolment, fundraising revenue, SBB carryovers and adjustments to federal student tuition contributed to the change – dealing with a large budget ~ $54 million - if have deficit one year, will be making it up with cuts the following year, so we are fortunate to end up in the black.

Superintendent Report:

- principal’s meeting cancelled for month of January

- Grade 12 exams currently taking place

- the Board will be extending an invitation to meet with the new Bishop

- Alberta Ed will be meeting with admin to go over the division’s annual report – on Jan. 24, Alberta Ed staff will be buying Racette School staff lunch and meeting with superintendent re: Racette debriefing

- The Board is planning another school tour for the last Wednesday of February

Racette update - under 20 students remain at the Regional High School - first day back at Racette 2 ran fairly smooth overall - staff and students generally happy to be back - still going through a healing process - Education Minister Jeff Johnson contacted our board chair with good news regarding additional $115,000 for staffing our two Racette sites. The Board is very appreciative of the support received by our provincial government.

Capital projects update – Two Hills Mennonite school tender closes Jan. 17 - Racette and FG Miller on schedule (FG a bit delayed with steel orders)

Learning Networks - professional development consortia for northeastern Alberta – covers Lac La Biche, Bonnyville, St. Paul, Vermilion, Lloydminster, Wainwright – 11 members on the board of directors - 8 school divisions plus Metis and First Nation schools - budget is $1.5 m per year – provides services for 4,000 staff – in the process of searching for a new executive director.

Financial report - received management letter from auditor – Wilde and Company Chartered Accountants.

Labour negotiations – local bargaining has commenced with the local Alberta Teachers’ Association – first meeting set for later this month – the Board’s guiding principles for negotiations are currently on the division website – bargaining is still ongoing with CEP support staff and bus drivers in the County of Two Hills area.