Trustee Report – December 10, 2014

Satisfaction Survey – In preparation for the division satisfaction survey, taking place after spring break, Trustees suggested some minor changes and additions to the questions. All students Grades 4 -12, staff and parents will take part. The information from this survey assists in guiding the Board and Division with its goals, policies and procedures.

Strategic Planning – April 13 and 14, 2015 has been set aside for school and community members to collaborate and create a new vision/mission and strategic plan for the division.

Calendar Development – Draft #1 of the 2015/16 school calendar will now be circulating throughout schools and will be discussed at school councils until the end of January. Calendar development always starts with counting backwards from diploma exam dates in January. Since the September long weekend falls at a later date (Sept. 7), school will start before the long weekend (August 31). Since Remembrance Day falls on a Wednesday, it cannot be attached to teacher lieu day and PD day like in November 2014. Instead, there will be a bit of a longer break over Thanksgiving.  Christmas Break needs to be in full weeks, so it will begin on December 19, with kids back on January 4. A midweek to midweek Christmas break is not effective for learning. School finishes a bit earlier for most students on June 24. High schools will be open June 27 and 28 for exams.

Dual Credit Proposal – High school students will have opportunities to explore some college level courses while still attending high school. The recent proposal involves SPERD joining the existing partnership between Lakeland College and East Central Catholic school division. Current online courses include early childhood courses, environmental science, esthetics, heavy oil and agriculture sciences.  The Board supports the proposal with the first round of classes starting in February.

FSLW Support Letters – the Board is once again sending out letters to its partnering municipalities asking for support of our Family School Liaison Program. This family-school counseling program originally began at the municipal level and has been taken over by the division and subsequently grown so that every school in the division has access to FSLW staff.

Policy Review – Trustees reviewed Policy 18 Community Engagement and Policy 19 School Councils with a minor housekeeping change in wording.

C2 Committee update – ATA Local President and C2 Committee member Connie Landsiedel reported on the collaborative PD day in November. It was greatly received by teachers who traveled/collaborated with other teachers around the division or in neighbouring divisions. Local committee and ATA members will use speaking points from the list of items of the C2 teacher workload survey last year in order to gather ongoing feedback.

Two Hills Playschool request – the playschool is requesting use of school space at Two Hills School. After consultation with the school and school council, the Board approved the request.

Transportation Survey – Buffalo Trails division initiated a meeting and survey to gather information on the common challenges that rural boards are facing. SPERD provided its survey answers to the rural transportation committee.

Superintendent Report:

Admin Procedure Reviews – School fundraising – schools are trying to follow gaming regulations but finding some cumbersome roadblocks – still investigating regulations pertaining to school activities. Also looking into further regulations and practices regarding health emergencies that may occur during field trips of sporting activities.

My Blueprint – a couple of schools and our division counselors are testing an online career planning program. It uses real-time student marks and individual goal planning to determine post secondary plans. It is still in investigative stage, but admin will explore it as a division-wide program.

What happens when busses aren’t running? After two “snow days” already this year, admin is moving forward, guaranteeing that there will be a minimum of 50% learning in classroom during snow days.

Libraries now know as Learning Commons according to a Ministerial Order. The traditional “library” has evolved into a communal place where students and staff gather to learn and discuss.

What is happening during PD Days? Starting in January, look for information in your school newsletters and/or social media for what staff is learning during professional development days.

What happens when my child isn’t going to be on the bus? Administrators discussed the possible need for a common notification method for students who may not be on their regularly-scheduled bus before or after school.

Edwin Parr nominations for first year teachers are due in March.

Financial Report – The audited financial statements for the 2013-14 school year show a deficit of $763,288 which represents 1.3% of the Division’s $58,405,177 budget. Total annual operational spending per student is $14,050 which works out to about $71 per day. The deficit is the result of a reserve distribution approved by trustees last year to address priority facility and student needs. Facility funds were used for school upgrades such as gym floors and improved wireless capabilities, while the school specific funds were primarily allocated for technology, updated equipment and furnishings as well as targeted professional development.

The fall budget update for the current year is projecting a similar small deficit of $683,773 mostly due to the carry-forward of allocations related to the above reserve distribution.

Capital Projects:

TH Mennonite School construction will resume once all of the revised agreements are properly signed. Alternate accommodations for the growing student population will be reviewed during a special Board capital planning meeting on. Dec. 17.

Ashmont schools were involved in value management session on Dec. 8 and 9 – Planning is leaning towards a replacement school instead of a renovation. Once this phase is finalized, the project will go back to Treasury Board for cost approval. The next planning meeting will occur in January.