School board briefs
Monday, 26 December 2011 00:31
Tarr elected new board chair
Marieze Tarr has been elected as new board chair of School District 53. She replaces long-time chair June Harrington.
At the inaugural meeting last week, trustee Sam Hancheroff was elected as vice-chair, while newly elected trustee Rob Zandee is the representative for BCPSEA (British Columbia Public School Employers' Association).
Harrington is the representative for BCSTA (BC School Trustees' Association).
Enrollment down
Student enrollment in the district in November was 2,376.5, which is an overall decrease from September of 17 full-time equivalent students.
Elementary schools have decreased by four students, and secondary schools have decreased by 27.25.
YouLearn has increased by 14.25 students since September.
Trustees keep same pay
Trustees could have given themselves a raise last week, but they didn’t.
When the topic of remuneration came up (it’s discussed every year), trustee Sam Hancheroff made a motion to maintain the same compensation figures.
Trustee remuneration ranges from $10,851 to $13,497 (for the chair).
Board allows variance for trip
The board approved a variance to allow students to attend a field trip in the US without passports.
Assistant superintendent Jim Insley reported that students are planning a field trip to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow Idaho on February 23-26.
He said not all the students have passports, but they can legally enter America with a birth certificate and a letter signed by a parent.
Students get free rooms
Forty-five students in Grade 9-11 will get free rooms and tickets to attend the National Aboriginal Achievements Awards in Vancouver in February.
Events hosted by the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation will include a career fair.
Aboriginal teacher Helen Gallagher and five support workers will chaperone the students at these events, including the awards ceremony at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Assistant superintendent Jim Insley said this is normally a very expensive trip, but the free rooms will result in a $4,000 saving.
He also noted the career education focus fits the district’s goal under the Aboriginal Enhancement Agreement.
Striking teachers bring signs
Striking teachers held up their signs outside the board office last week prior to the regular public meeting.
But they opted to leave the signs outside once the meeting started.
Ron Rachinski, president of the South Okanagan Similkameen Teachers Union, made the board aware of the issues and roadblocks faced by teachers.
For example, he stated that teacher seniority is being threatened. “We don’t want to see seniority taken out of the agreement . . . we’d like to see those protections maintained. I know what’s important to teachers in the district.”
Trustee June Harrington said teacher seniority has always been considered, but the board also considers suitability for the job.
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