Organizational
meeting – the Board held its annual organizational
meeting with Chair Heather Starosielski and Vice Chair Rhonda Lafrance being
acclaimed. Trustees also chose their positions on various committees.
Enrolment
update – 4,020 students – up 76 from projected (+24
from last Sept. 30) – final count is Sept. 30. Ads for 0.5 FTE positions in Elk
Point and Two Hills Mennonite and one full-time teacher in Heinsburg. Mallaig
also hired 0.5 teaching position, but used TA time to fill the position. Quite
often student enrolment declines until Sept. 30 and levels off. Schools did a
good job at projecting for this year.
NewCap
donation – the division received another donation
of $8,000 from NewCap (who operates SPUR
radio station). The money will go towards music/band programs across the
division. The board also discussed a request from SPUR for an anti-bullying
partnership with radio advertising. The Board referred the matter back to
administration for further review.
Two
Hills Mennonite School update – the artesian well
capping process was successful over the summer. Design and schedule changes
required additional negotiations with the contractor, which has been causing
further delay. The Two Hills Mennonite community held a Town Hall meeting in
late August to discuss concerns over the site conditions with the Board and
reps from Alberta Infrastructure. AB Infrastructure and Education were meeting
today to discuss future plans for the school. The Board eagerly awaits the next
steps. Since the government provides the funding for new schools and is the
project manager for this project, the Board will continue to act as an advocate
for the community, as it does, equally, for all students, staff and parents
across the division.
Locally
Developed Course – Global Discovery Jr. High Option
for Mallaig. A new semester option for Grade 7and 8 students. Principal
Whitfield designed this course – based on using field work and geographical
systems. Heavily based on inquiry. Board approved the course.
Ashmont
intersection update – County of St. Paul has been
involved in lobbying for reduced speed zone being moved further west. The school
and its parent council are in the process of writing letters to the government
as well. The Board will follow up with these partners on further lobbying
efforts
Policy
Review – Policy 8 Board Committees the changed
Calendar Committee to Board as a whole. Policy 9 – NE Cross Ministry Governance
has been disbanded, so this Board Representative commitment will be removed
from policy.
Regional
High School sponsorship request – Regional is
requesting approval for sponsorship of girls’ volleyball team jerseys. Board
approved the request. The Board also requested administration investigate a
method of approval when an official school council is not in place and/or a
quick turnaround decision is required.
ATA
Board Meeting participation – New Local president
Connie Landsiedel and VP Ron Wiebe will be taking turns attending board meetings
and the Board and ATA Local will be sharing sub costs. A Teacher Board Advisory
meeting has been set for October 15.
School
Tours - the
Board is tentatively planning its next school tour on October 28 to Two
Hills School and Two Hills Mennonite School with a tentative meeting with the
Mennonite School Council.
Board
Strategic Planning – the Board is dedicating
resources to reviewing its strategic plan this year, including the division’s
vision and mission statements.
Post
Secondary Night – to be held Sept. 17, 7:00-8:30
p.m. at Regional High School gymnasium with reps from universities and colleges
across the province.
Glen
Avon parking lot sale – Board approved the highest
bid for public tenders on the former parking lot across from old GA.
Staff
Recognition (AP
415) – a new admin procedure is in place to replace the pins that used to
be handed out for 10 and 20+ years of service. Much of the groundwork and
research for this initiative took place in the C2 teacher workload study and
principal meetings. Service awards will now be handed out as $100 for 10 years
and $200 for 20 years of service. Those who work 25+ years will receive $10 per
year of service.
Superintendent’s
report:
A
positive start to the year - The administration
team has already completed quick visits to half of the schools in the division.
Been hearing positive things. Settling into routine. Want to continue the
positive trend.
The
Ashmont SEVEC trip that was previously approved has
been formally documented and the students are going to Quebec this year.
Division
Satisfaction Survey – Consistent with policy of
having a survey once per election term, the Board has decided to complete a
division satisfaction survey in the 2014/15 school year.
Success
Coach program – a grant-based government initiative
that started in 2007 – was in GA, Racette and two Ashmont Schools. New project
has transformed into all schools with a focus on proactive interventions. Half-time
success coaches will be in place in all schools. Ads are currently in place to
recruit the appropriate personnel.
Dr. David
Townsend, an educational leadership expert, is
scheduled to facilitate eight meetings with local administrators and central
office admin. Good opportunity for growth with our younger admin teams.
Financial
Report – biggest unknowns this time of year is
enrolment and since it is on track, the budget should be on track. Continued
implementation of new SRB software for school and central office reporting.
Infrastructure
Maintenance Renewal (IMR) Report – the majority of projects earmarked for this year were
completed over the summer, including the extra $500,000 from reserves in a
one-time allocation towards infrastructure projects. A few parking lot upgrades
were not completed during the summer, but are still to be completed.
