The first day of school for students was also the first school board meeting of the 2015/2016 school year for trustees in School District No. 46 (SD46).
All but trustee Lori Dixon were in attendance on Sept. 8. Board chair Betty Baxter explained Dixon would be away from her seat for the next two months due to medical reasons.
“We wish her a speedy recovery but trustee Dixon will be missing most of our meetings for September and October and we hope she’ll be back in November,” Baxter said.
Music
Superintendent of schools Patrick Bocking reported that four district music teachers will ensure all elementary students get their hands on an instrument in the 2015/2016 school year.
“Every single child on the Sunshine Coast in their primary years receives an hour of professional music instruction per week through the district,” Bocking said. “It’s just so powerful for learning for young children.”
He noted there are some structures for music classes at the secondary level as well, but next year SD46 will consider expanding the elementary program to the secondary level.
Mill impacts
Assistant superintendent of schools Greg Kitchen said he checked with Gibsons and Langdale elementary schools to see if the Howe Sound Pulp and Paper mill layoffs had impacted school enrolment, and he found no significant reduction in the number of students.
“At this point they’re not experiencing any negative impact. No loss of families. No loss of students due to the adjustments at the mill,” Kitchen said.
He added that he was unable to pinpoint numbers at Elphinstone Secondary School by the board meeting, but said he would be working on getting those numbers this week.
“We’re feeling for those families, we’re concerned for those families, but so far it appears that those families are remaining in our community and hopefully they’ll find viable employment and continue to be a part of our community,” Kitchen said.
RCMP
Const. Kyle Hrynyk has been appointed as the new RCMP school liaison officer who will work with high schools in SD46.
Bocking said he was pleased with the posting.
“We look forward to working with him and I know our principals really value that partnership with the RCMP,” Bocking said.
Aboriginal learning
This year SD46 will have a fully staffed Aboriginal Education Team to help plan how to integrate awareness of Aboriginal issues into learning for students and staff, as part of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations.
“I’m excited for having a full team for our students, and I’m also excited for our teachers,” said trustee Christine Younghusband.
Planning councils
Trustees officially repealed the old School Planning Council (SPC) administrative regulations now that SPCs are no longer a requirement of the province.
“This isn’t to say that the parent voice has changed in the eyes of the Ministry of Education. They’re very much insisting and expecting that we consult carefully with our parents for school growth plans and for our work at the board level, as well in terms of feedback and consultation,” Bocking said.
“They haven’t specified exactly what that should look like yet, but when they do, we will have another regulation.”
Water savings
Secretary treasurer Nicholas Weswick reported on some water conservation efforts undertaken by SD46 over the summer.
He said SD46 replaced a total of 50 toilets with low-flow toilets and replaced 15 standard urinals with waterless urinals.
“That’s an estimated savings of over 4 million litres [of water] per year, which is pretty incredible,” Weswick said.
