Trustee Report - January 14, 2015

Education Act Regulations Review – Alberta Education has released 16 proposed regulations and is looking for further public input. The Education Act Regulatory Review Committee was established in April 2013 to lead discussion on the regulations that will support the Education Act upon its proclamation later this year. The 16 regulations are posted online at http://education.alberta.ca/edu-act and feedback is sought until the deadline on January 31, 2015.

Infrastructure Maintenance Renewal (IMR) Schedule - $1.1 million of general maintenance work on local schools has been approved to take place over the next year, the majority of which will take place during July and August.  The Province doubled the division’s allocation for IMR funding in this year’s budget.

Two Hills Adult Learning Request – The Board waived the fee for the local council to use the school in Two Hills as part of an English as a Second Language program for adults.

Educational Tours Admin Procedure 262 – Due to unforeseen circumstances at the personal and school level, a couple of events have occurred over the last two years where the division had to reimburse funds for cancelled trips. As a result, the Superintendent is strengthening the procedures necessary for school trips abroad.

Students with Severe (Anaphylactic) Allergies Admin Procedure 318 –The Board reviewed the final adjustments to the procedure and commended administration for their due diligence.

Satisfaction Survey – Trustees reviewed further changes to the questions for the upcoming division-wide survey to take place after spring break. The Board approved the questions, the proposed timelines and the communications plan for the survey.

Policy Review – Policy 10 Policy Making and Policy 11 Board Delegation of Authority were reviewed with no changes.

Superintendent’s Report:

Fundraising and gaming regulations – Through some research admin discovered that schools are not eligible to apply for raffle licenses, but schools do not need a license if there is a skill component (ie. how many jelly beans in the jar?). However, parent fundraising societies, registered under the Societies Act, are eligible to apply for raffle licenses.

Education planners – administrators are excited about MyBlueprint.ca and may include it as a division-wide purchase. It allows for student goal setting, career planning and academic tracking. Students can easily research post-secondary opportunities.

Division Calendar – continuing to gather input from draft calendar released in December. Early feedback suggests little to no changes, but feedback will be received until the February board meeting.

Website workshop – staff completed a workshop on Jan. 9 in the ongoing effort to improve the division and school websites.

School Dress (AP 351) – admin doing a complete review of current procedures.

Verification of Bus Driver License Credentials/Demerit Accumulation (AP 555) - This new AP requires all drivers who operate commercial vehicles for the Division to provide authorization for driver abstracts annually and to report any driving infractions to the Director of Transportation within two weeks of the infraction. The AP provides guidelines for drivers who have demerits on their license and will be used as a guideline when reviewing driver abstracts for volunteer drivers who operate non-commercial vehicles.

 All helmets used for school skating activities must be CSA approved.

Financial Report:

Preliminary budget planning for the next school year is commencing; however, the current economic climate is creating some caution at this point.

Capital Projects:

Two Hills Mennonite – Since the project has been suspended for over a year, there are still a few outstanding financial items the government needs to settle with the general contractor. The changes to the original plan, including the structural slab, underslab drainage system and methane ventilation system, have been approved.

Ashmont Schools – will continue the planning process as previously announced.