Elementary school counsellors are seeing more children with anxietyissues on the Coast, and between four and 4.5 per cent oflocal students are currently identified as having a "behaviour that interferes with learning."
The rate is much higher than the provincial average of 1.25 per cent and student needs are being met by just three counsellors who split their time between nine elementary schools.
Those three counsellors made a presentation at the May 8 school board meeting where Ursula Hardwick said the trio "attempt to do it all."
She said in addition to helping students with whatever social and emotional needs that arise, they also provide suicide risk assessments, crisis intervention and abuse prevention, sit on various committees and hold parent education seminars and workshops.
Trustees thanked Hardwick for the presentation and asked why the local rate of students with behavioural issues is so much higher than the provincial average.
The counsellors could not answer why; they only say the numbers reflect what they see on a daily basis.
UStart
Chatelech Secondary School principal John Brisebois told the board about a new transferable English course he intends to institute next year.
Students who want to take the university level course must first demonstrate a high level of competency in English 12 during the first semester.
It's hoped the new course, English 100, will give grads a glimpse of the level of learning required in university and help make the transition easier.
Budget held
Trustees attempted to pass the 2012/13 budget; however, one trustee voted against final reading.
Trustee Lori Dixon opposed giving final reading to the budget, and because it required a unanimous vote to push adoption that night, third reading was left for another date.
Dixon did not comment on why she opposed the budget.
School board chair Silas White noted the board could call a special meeting in a couple of days to pass the final reading in order to submit the budget to the government in time for their deadlines.
DPAC
The next DPAC meeting is scheduled for May 29 at Chatelech Secondary School at 7 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend.
