Enclosure No. 1

M I N U T E S OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MEDICINEHATSCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 76 HELD IN THE BOARD ROOM IN THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 7, 2006AT 7:00 P.M.

TRUSTEES PRESENT:Mrs. Gitta Hashizume, Ms. Deborah Forbes, Mr. Greg Bender,

Mr. Terry Riley, Dr. L.J. (Roy)Wilson

OFFICIALS PRESENT:Dr. Linda Rossler, Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Grant Henderson, Associate Superintendent-Human Resources

Mr. Doug Pudwell, Associate Superintendent-

Business Administration Secretary-Treasurer

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE:Mr. Guy Smith, Principal, WebsterNiblockSchool

Mr. Dale Cowan, Vice-Principal, WebsterNiblockSchool

Mr. Quinn Skelton, Football Coach, Medicine HatHigh School

Ms. Luanne Rasmuson, President, MHHS Football Club

Mrs. Kathy Hall-Deibert, Director of Student Services

Mr. Andy Christie, Director of Facilities

Mr. Cal Martin, Director of Finance

CHAIR:Mrs. Gitta Hashizume

SECRETARY:Mr. Doug Pudwell

  1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

68. Ms. ForbesTHAT the Agenda be approved.

CARRIED

  1. ADOPTION OF MINUTES

69. Mr. RileyTHAT the Minutes of the Regular Board and Committee of the Whole meetings held on Tuesday, February 7, 2006be adopted.

CARRIED

  1. CORRESPONDENCE
  1. Copy of letter dated February 2, 2006 referring to Alberta’s Third Way in health services delivery.
  1. Copy of letter dated February 17, 2006 from Alberta School Boards Association with an enclosure entitled How to Improve High School Completion Rates – Insights from Alberta’s School Trustees.
  1. Thank you card from Dylan Lane for Thelma Berkeley Robinson scholarship.

IV.RECOGNITIONS/ACCOMPLISHMENT

  1. Mark Bevan and Keith Fisher

Dr. Rossler extended thanks to Mark Bevan, Director of Programs and Instruction, and Keith Fisher, AISI Coordinator, for hosting the Symposium on School Improvement on January 31, 2006.

  1. Valerie Brown

Dr. Rossler recognized Mrs. Valerie Browne, teacher at RiversideSchool, in regards to Mrs. Browne’s story being aired on CBC Radio show, Vinyl Café.

  1. PRESENTATIONS
  1. WebsterNiblockSchool Technology –

Smart Boards

The Chair welcomed Mr. Smith and Mr. Cowan to the meeting. Mr. Smith and Mr. Cowan highlighted aspects of the utilization of smart boards in classrooms at WebsterNiblockSchool. It was noted that smart boards are state of the art technology and have been used for several years at WebsterNiblockSchool. Mr. Smith noted that the teachers have been trained in the use of smart boards for classroom instruction.

It was also explained that WebsterNiblockSchool presently has 13 smart boards; one in every classroom except for the Kindergarten classroom. Each classroom has surround sound, DVD and scanners.

It was also explained that the smart boards assist WebsterNiblockSchoolin meeting the ICT outcomes.

  1. ITEMS FOR ACTION
  1. Funding Framework Review-Terms of Reference

Mrs. Hashizume provided an email from David Anderson, Executive Director of ASBA, providing the Terms of Reference, responsibility, names of Advisory Committee and Sub-Committee members reviewing the funding framework.

Trustees asked a number of questions, but delayed providing any comments for the ASBA Advisory Committees until further information is received.

  1. Policy 521: Professional Development of School Personnel

Dr. Rossler advised the Board that Policy 521: Professional Development of School Personnel had been reviewed and revised by the Coordinating Committee.

70. Dr. WilsonTHAT the Board approved revised Policy 521: Professional Development of School Personnel, a copy of which is attached hereto and forms part of these minutes.

CARRIED

3.2006-2007 School Year Calendar

Dr. Rossler presented the 2006-2007 School Year Calendar and noted that it had been reviewed by the Coordinating and Administrative Committees.

71. Dr. WilsonTHAT the Board approve the 2006-2007 School Year Calendar, a copy of which is attached here and forms part of these minutes.

4.Southeastern Alberta Student Health Partnership (SASHP)

Dr. Rossler explained that Medicine Hat School District No. 76 is a partner in the Southeastern Alberta Health Partnership.

The Chair welcomed Mrs. Kathy Hall-Deibert, Director of Student Services, to the meeting.

Dr. Rossler and Mrs. Hall-Deibert explained that members of the Southern Alberta Student Health Partnership are concerned about the negative impact of receiving no increase in the SASHP Operating Budget, which could translate to staff cut-backs to many of the partners.

They requested that the Board submit a letter to the Minister of Children’s Services indicating their displeasure with the lack of funding and provided a draft letter for consideration.

72. Ms. ForbesTHAT the Board approve the draft letter for submission to the Minister of Children’s Services.

CARRIED

5.Field Trip Request to San Diego, California

The Chair welcomed Mr. Quinn Skelton, teacher at Medicine HatHigh School and Ms.Luanne Rasmuson, President of the Medicine Hat High School Football Club to the meeting.

Mr. Skelton explained that he was requesting permission for the Mohawk Football Team to travel to San Diego, California for the period September 19 – 24, 2006 to participate in an exhibition game.

Mr. Skelton provided a Field Trip Request form and answered a number of questions.

73. Mr. RileyTHAT the Board approve, in principle, that Medicine Hat High School Football Team to travel to San Diego, California from September 19 – 24, 2006 inclusive, subject to the following conditions:

a) that the District’s Student Waiver Forms be signed by all parents;

b)that each student and supervisor purchase accident insurance (i.e. Industrial Alliance Pacific [IAP]);

c)that each student purchase additional Health Insurance (i.e. Blue Cross Extended Health Care);

d)that there be no cost to the Board, other than the cost of substitute teachers for approved supervising teachers traveling on the Field Trip;

e)that any adults participating in the trip who are not designated supervisors be informed and sign a release that the Board does not accept any responsibility (liability or otherwise) as a result of their participation;

f)that the Secretary-Treasurerobtain confirmation that adequate District Insurance is in place for this field trip;

g)that criminal record checks be obtained for parent supervisors (non-district personnel); and

h)that the Principal/Teacher responsible continue to monitor and keep track of the travel advisories and ensure that students and parents are aware that the trip could be cancelled.

  1. Change of Board Meeting from Tuesday,

March 21, 2006 to Tuesday, March 14, 2006

As the Superintendent and Associate Superintendent: Business Administration and Secretary-Treasurer are out of the city on March 21, 2006, it is recommended that the Conference Committee meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m. and the Regular Board meeting scheduled for 7:00 p.m. be moved to Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

74. Dr. WilsonTHAT the Conference Committee and the Regular Board meetings scheduled for Tuesday, March 21, 2006 be changed to Tuesday, March 14, 2006.

CARRIED

VII.DELEGATIONS

VIII.REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

  1. Coordinating Committee

Mrs. Hashimzume reported on the Minutes of the Coordinating Meeting which was held on Monday, February 6, 2006.

75. Mr. BenderTHAT the Board receive the Minutes of the Coordinating Committee Meeting held on Monday, February 6, 2006, copies of which are attached hereto and form part of these Minutes.

CARRIED

IX.ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

1.ASBA Zone 6 Notice of General Meeting

and Minutes of Annual General Meeting

held on January 11, 2006______

Mr. Pudwell advised Trustees of the next ASBA Zone 6 General meeting scheduled for March 8, 2006 in Lethbridge and provided copies of the minutes of the Zone 6 Annual General meeting held on January 11, 2006.

2.Annual Education Results Report

Dr. Rossler discussed the Annual Education Results Report for 2004-2005.

  1. ASBA Resolution 8.D.04

Mrs. Hashizume spoke to the letter to Ms. Maureen Kubinec, President of ASBA, from Grace Gruber, Board Chair of Parkland School Division No. 70 concerning ASBA Resolution 8.D.04 GLA.

  1. Edwin Parr Award – March 21, 2006

Mrs. Hashizume reminded Trustees that interviews for the Edwin Parr Award will be held in the Board Room on March 21, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.

5.February 28, 2006 Student Enrolment

Mr. Pudwell provided information on enrolment for Medicine HatSchool District for February 28, 2006 as compared to September 30, 2005 and February 28, 2005.

He explained that the February 28, 2006 enrolment is a net 40 less than September 30, 2005, a net 119 less than September 30, 2004 and net 70 less than February 28, 2005.

He noted a significant decrease is in the number of AlternativeHigh School and YMCA Stay-in-School students. He explained that these programs have 77 fewer students now than in February 2005.

He also noted that the enrolments at the two secondary schools, CrescentHeightsHigh School and Medicine HatHigh School, have decreased a total of 93 since September 30, 2005. He explained that a number of these students enrolled in Grade 12 did not return for the second semester.

He advised that on the positive side, many of the elementary schools enrolments have increased since September 30, 2005.

X.MOVE TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

76. Mr. BenderTHAT the Board move to the Committee of the Whole to discuss certain confidential matters.

CARRIED

The Board moved to Committee of the Whole at8:34 p.m.

  1. RECONVENE TO OPEN BOARD MEETING

The Board reconvened to the Open Board meeting at 9:16 p.m.

  1. ACTION ARISING OUT OF COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
  1. ADJOURNMENT

77. Mr. RileyTHAT the meeting adjourn.

CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 9:17 p.m.

CHAIR

SECRETARY