Presentation on new approach to early reading education, prospect of appointed Indigenous Representation on SD52 Board among topics of note for Board of Education meeting for January

It takes a bit of digging, but for those looking to explore the January SD52 Board meeting, the work of the Board of Trustees and Senior staff is available for review.

While the SD52 website, where most parents/guardians may be looking for it  still has yet to be updated to reflect the January session; the Rupert Schools YouTube page is up to date, you can access the video to the session and all previous sessions here.

Close to one third of the night's work on January 18th was dedicated towards a Presentation from Erin Trask and Susan Kobza who explored reading and writing at the Kindergarten level to open the session on the night.

The pair outlining the background towards a program designed to reinforce skill development and how the School program goes about getting youngsters engaged in the reading programs. the overview included some pictures and video of the classroom work that took place at Lax Kxeen Elementary School.

Towards comments, Trustee Last noted how the program as outlined was game changing for kids and inquired as to whether the program progresses or has continuity beyond the Kindergarten level, to which she was advised it was hoped that the shift will take place into the future, with Ms. Kobza noting how things are moving in that direction.

Trustee Maier asked if other schools were taking up the concept and suggested that as a Board, if the District could find a way to expand the project to other schools. A number of other Trustees also applauded the work of the Lax Keen program, with Trustee Beil also calling for the District to expand the program to other schools.

"But we can't do it with just one school, we need to have a buy in from the whole District, so whatever you need from us, I think that it's time for the Board to step in and put our dollars in the right places" -- SD Trustee Beil on the Lax Keen reading program and the need to expand the concept District wide

As for some of the other elements for the night, the scope of the Board meeting included a range of correspondences from a number of stakeholders, the one that caught the most attention and made for the most discussion that of a letter from the BCFT to Minister of Education calling for designated trustee seats for Indigenous persons.

A correspondence from the BCTF to the Ministry of Education
sparked an extensive overview over the concept of introducing
an assigned seat for Indigenous Representation for SD52 
(Click to enlarge)

Towards the BCTF letter, the extensive commentary to the topic ranged from full support for the concept, to a caution over the need to continue to remain an accountable by election forum on education.

Trustee Maier offered the strongest support towards the concept, while Trustee Last observed how on the surface the Board would want more participation from Indigenous people, noting however that she has concerns over designating seats.

"The reason for that is an election is democracy at its fullest, people feel the need to serve, they get someone to nominate them, they go through what can be a rather horrible experience of an election and they become a trustee. 

And I don't want to mess with that, I don't think it should be messed with  ... It it's an election, whether it's for School Board, MLA, MP what have you...  It is the people who put their name up there for scrutiny, that is an election and I don't think anybody should just get a seat based on anything, that would be something different to me" -- Trustee Last

She also observed of the unique nature of the School District in Prince Rupert and how it hosts an Indigenous Education Council which provides for invaluable perspective on local issues on education.  Ms. Last also noted of the potential for a slippery slope away from the democratic nature of the electoral process.

Towards defence of the concept Trustee Maier offered up.

"I would love to know what an election would look like if what BCTF is saying in this letter was put in, I can't even wrap my head around the logistics of it" -- Trustee Maier

Trustee Sanchez spoke in favour of the motion, noting of the demographic make up of the School District

"I have to say, that I am in favour of this motion, and the reason I'm saying that is,  we have 60 percent Aboriginal students in our District and I hear what you're talking about, you know its different than you know voting. 

However I feel strongly that we should have and Aboriginal representative on our board. I really believe it's good, because there are some times when we have a conversation, maybe a conversation like this. 

That that Aboriginal person might be able to put her cultural understanding and bring that awareness in terms of why we would want to have that Aboriginal person there. Because they are aware of the culture and they might be able to bring to us and bring us aware of some of the subjects that we might take for granted " -- Trustee Sanchez

Trustee Kuntz also spoke to the idea of assigning a spot on the Board for Indigenous representation, finding some positive attributes to the concept, though offering a nod towards the existing process of elected officials, in the end not quite making a decision either way.

Trustee Horne spoke in favour of the prospect of adding an appointed seat for the Board.

"I'm also in favour of this idea of having a Trustee seat designated towards an Indigenous person.   I think  anytime we can encourage Indigenous people to be on the board when we have such a large representation in the public is an excellent idea and their input would be great". -- Trustee Horne

Before the conversation came to a close Trustee Last pointed out that currently there were three members of Indigenous background on the Board, herself, Chair Toye and Ms. Beil and because they don't vocalize their heritage doesn't mean that they don't have a perspective on the frame of reference. 

For her part Board Chair Kate Toye observed how there is a lot of room available to look for mechanisms to ensure that Indigenous voices are involved in the School Board process.

The Board followed up their review with a decision to table the letter and reconsider the issue at some future session.

The discussion over the proposed change to School Board composition, was by far much longer than any comments directed to the other correspondences, related to Climate literacy, increased funding for the facilities grant and others from the agenda.

When it came to the Reports from Staff for the Board, Council heard on the enrolment status for the District and attendance themes from Sandra Pond.

"As of December 31st our enrolment was 1,840 students, which was down by 12 students since November 30th. And so when I did a little bit of detective work, we've had 12 students move out of the District in December,  so families on the move. I have noticed since we've been back in January that we've had quite a few new registrations  so I'm hoping that the numbers at January 31st will have gone up again"

Towards the notes on SD 52 attendance, Ms. Pond outlined the following results for the first week of school

"As far as attendance, when we returned on the 10th of January, the first day in our elementary schools we had 71% percent of our students attending and in our middle and secondary school we had 80% of our students attending. 

And the average last week turned out to be about 77% in the high school and the middle school and 73% in the elementary school ... this is very good compared to other school districts, many other school districts in the province"

Ms. Pond also provided a comparison between 2021 and 2022 attendance levels.

"Granted it was still the pandemic but what we noticed  there was that for elementary schools in the first few weeks back last January we had 82% of our elementary students attending and 82 percent of our middle and secondary students attending. So we're not, we're down a little bit and I think Omicron is most likely the reason for that but it's not a lot different'

The Board were provided with a range of options for upcoming  School Calendars for the years ahead for early review, which they were asked to be sent out for Consultation.

Superintendent Andrew Samoil provided for a COVID update noting of the preparations that the Board put in place prior to the school restart earlier in January, as well as to advise that the situation remains fluid and changes rapidly from the Ministry. 

He outlined some of the measures in place at the moment towards the guidelines that have bee provided to the District by the Province He also updated the plans for COVID testing, the SD provision for masks and face shields and the element of Functional closures that could be put in place if the situation warrants.

The Superintendent provided the Board with an update on how the School District would approach the collection of vaccination data if requested by the Health Office in Prince Rupert.

"The Provincial Health Office, locally we call it the Medical Health Officer, or Health Office. Has also just recently issued an order whereby they may, this is not for certain, but they may issue a request to determine the vaccination status of employees from one of our schools, or from a worksite, or a department. 

We are just starting today, now that we have this information, we are just starting on this, on how we can safely and accurately collect this data, if an order was issued to us. And my understanding is this would only be requested if there is some kind of outbreak or large number of people testing positive. And again this order has not been given, but we have asked to prepare for this"

Towards the work on the School District work on Strategic planning, Mr. Samoil noted of some delays, owing to COVID and the late start to the January school year.

The Secretary/Treasurer outlined some notes on a range of reports on Expenditures and Operations.

The Board reviewed a number of other reports from Committee and outlined the road ahead through February for District work.

The gathering also heard comments from the PRDTU President Gabriel Bureau, who spoke to the topic of the Indigenous representation conversation and COVID vaccination data gathering at the end of the session the union representative describing the concept as concerning.

Mr. Bureau putting forward the oft stated goals of the union towards, N95 masks, ventilation improvements and informing parents on vaccinations, all which he suggested would have a greater effect. 

The PRDTU president adding how he found the call by the Ministry for the prospect of disclosure of vaccination status a bizarre approach.

The full video of the Board Session of January 18th can be viewed below:

More notes on Education can be found from our archive page here.