November's SD52 Board meeting provided for a range of themes, with a look at a popular salmon program, special funding and a decision on the Board's themes of an audit from the Spring moving towards some kind of action among the discussion topics raised on November 9th.
The Board Officials met in person at the Booth Building Conference room, while guests and some Board members participated by Zoom.
The first portion of the session was give over to Salmon, with the Board hearing a presentation from Mike McDowall from Prince Rupert Middle School and Jon Pinkhasik from Pacific Coast School, the eighteen minute overview exploring the themes of the Stream to Sea program which has been part of the SD52 curriculum for over thirty years.
The popular program takes the students out of the classroom setting and otudoors to explore the cycle of salmon and its impact on the North Coast and it's importance to the First Nations of the Tsimpsean people.
Some Councillors shared their thoughts on the program and how students have reacted to the instruction that comes from it.
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| Students taking part in the Stream to Sea program at SD52 |
Other themes on the night covered a range of discussion points from the Agenda.
There was a discussion on autism funding and the recent changes suggested by the Provincial government with the School District members exploring their options towards delivering advice by way of a letter to the government on what the shift in supports may mean for local families.
During the course of the conversation many of the Board members recalled the tragedy of Robert and Angie and how the need for local supports is an important requirement towards how the issue should be addressed.
While the topic of Mandatory vaccination was on the agenda, for the Board as part of their correspondences portion of the night, with the members noting that they would receive and file the topic, as such there was no discussion related to that theme on the evening.
That was one of a number of items on the agenda that were received and filed during the session.
The Superintendents Report provided for an overview on Field Trips, Enrolment, Research request, COVID update Strategic Plan update and Upcoming projects.
On enrolment Sandra Pond, noted of some changes from the September figures, observing that the current level is at 1,848 which notes of some new arrivals or returning students and five students having moved out of the District.
The Scope of a Survey proposal from UBC interested in speaking with LGBTQ high school students was discussed as to what their goals and objectives of the work were and if the Board may be able to access the results to better aid the students of the District made for much of the discussion.
It was observed that work continues on the Board's Strategic Plan, with consultation among stakeholders in the project continuing with more sessions ahead in December.
Some of the ongoing initiatives towards Indigenous study and reconciliation were also relayed as part of the Superintendent's Report.
An update on the level of practicum students from SFU, Coast Mountain College and Sprott Shaw College was provided, with hopes that some could be placed on School staff in the future.
Secretary-Treasurer Cam McIntyre provided an overview of some of the work that has been done on developing Expenditure and Operations reports. As well the Board reviewed plans for Committee meetings.
The Board also discussed a summary of the special one time funding that it has received for the current year. As was noted in the discussion, the funding is primarily targeted towards mental health funding, learning loss during the pandemic, some of their health and safety protocols, along with reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.
Trustees also reviewed four Policy items for approval on the night, themes included:
Physical restraint and Seclusion
Code of Conduct and Racism
Role of Superintendent
Delegation to the Superintendent
The Board heard from the Secretary Treasurer who outlined how it may approach future issues related to the lowering of the Canadian flag at District schools, with the School District noting that they may require a policy in place for future situations.
Superintendent Samoil reviewed how the District is approaching the topic in the interim.
The topic of how to address the call earlier this year from the Board for a Forensic Audit, with the Board now looking towards an internal audit process.
Trustee Beil spoke to the topic:
"We did access outside expertise to see what, you know you say Forensic Audit, well once you get to the nitty gritty of what that actually is and what it would provide; putting questions that we had, an Internal audit really did meet our needs better and it certainly is a different process and one we feel would be beneficial to the District"
Trustees Kuntz and Maier also spoke in favour of the revised plan of the internal audit plan, trustee Horne made some inquiries related to the difference in cost between the two options.
Trustee Maier observed that the School District would only be paying up to 15,000 for the audit and the decide further after that. The audit work will be carried out by the District's external auditor, KPMG.
There were no questions raised during the 10 minute Question and Answer availability.
A synopsis of the meeting was offered up by the School District office available here.
The full meeting can be reviewed below:
The Board will next meet in public session on December 14th.
For more notes related to SD52 themes and issues see our archive page.
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