MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MEDICINE HAT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO.76 HELD IN THE BOARD ROOM IN THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 2011 AT 7:00 P.M.
TRUSTEES PRESENT:Mr. Terry Riley, Mr. Greg Bender, Ms. Deborah Forbes, Mr. Rick Massini, Dr. L.J. (Roy) Wilson
OFFICIALS PRESENT:Dr. Grant Henderson, Superintendent of Schools
Mrs. Sherri Fedor, Associate Superintendent
Mr. Lyle Cunningham, Associate Superintendent
Mr. Jerry Labossiere, Secretary Treasurer
OTHERS PRESENT:Mr. Cody Edwards, Telethon Co-Chair
Mr. Andrew McFetridge, Telethon Co-Chair
Ms. Melanie Connellan, My Place Coordinator
Ms. Michelle Hymanyk, Teacher, Medicine Hat Christian School
CHAIR:Mr. Terry Riley
RECORDING SECRETARY:Mrs. Angie Lesko
I.APPROVAL OF AGENDA
ADDITIONS UNDER:
Presentations:
4. Budget Presentation Update
Items for Action:
5. Naming Facilities Committee – Appointment of Chair
- Commissioner for Oaths
84. Mr. BenderTHAT the Agenda be approved as amended.
CARRIED
II.ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Presentation and adoption of the Minutes of the Regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 and Committee of the Whole meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.
85. Dr. WilsonTHAT the Minutes of the Regular Board meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 and Committee of the Whole meeting held on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 be adopted as presented.
CARRIED
III.CORRESPONDENCE
1.Thank you card from Charmaine Brooks - Thanking the Board for its contribution in her professional journey to obtaining a doctorate.
2.Letter from Minister of Education, Dave Hancock, dated February 9, 2011, re: Approval to sell Georges P. Vanier School building and land to CORE Association for $1.00.
IV.RECOGNITIONS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1.Spelling Bee Competitors
Congratulations to AnoushkaGaekwad, Grade 5 student at Connaught School, for winning the Connaught School Spelling Bee and for achieving 6th place at the Regional Spelling Bee.
Lea Varghese of Medicine Hat Christian School was the runner-up at the Regional Spelling Bee in Lethbridge.
Leah Gilmore of Crescent Heights High School tied for 4th place at the Regional Spelling Bee.
Congratulations to all District students who competed in local as well as regional competitions.
2.Historica Fair
Congratulations to Alexandra Middle School on their first annual Historica Fair held on February 17th. The Historica Fair is connected to Grade 7 as the Social Studies curriculum focuses of Canada. It is similar to the Science Fair in that students select projects that are connected to Canadian History and then put together presentations. Thank you to teachers, Sara Jans and John Grimes, who organized the fair.
A number of trustees attended and were very impressed with the variety of topics and the quality of the presentations.
3.Tim Johnson
Congratulations to Tim Johnson, Technology Leadership Coordinator, who has been accepted as a presenter at the annual CASA 2011 Annual Conference in Niagara Falls in July, 2011. Tim was selected to present on how technology is supporting the District’s goal of Improved Learning, Living and Relationships.
4.David George
Congratulations to David George, Principal at Crestwood School, who has been accepted as a presenter at the annual CASA 2011 Annual Conference in Niagara Falls in July, 2011. David’s topic will be, “Character Education and Leadership Development as 21st Century Learning”. From the perspective of 21 century learning, among the skills considered most essential in the 21st century include: collaboration; systems thinking; empathy and communication; technological skills; civic engagement; and intrapersonal intelligence. Foundational to 21st Century Learning is character and leadership development. At Crestwood School the school community recognizes that integral to 21st Century Learning are the skills inherent in character education and leadership development.
V.PRESENTATIONS
1.Education Foundation Telethon
The 17th Annual Medicine Hat Public Schools Education Foundation Telethon will take place Sunday, March 13, 2011 at Crescent Heights High School Wahl-Harker Performing Arts Theatre from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It can be viewed on Shaw Cable 10. This year’s theme is “Celebrate 125”, recognizing the proud history of public education in Medicine Hat over the past 125 years. Dr. Roy Wilson will share his historical research and will highlight how Medicine Hat School District is building on the past to prepare for the future. The Telethon will continue to feature the outstanding work taking place in such areas as Fine Arts, 21st Century Learning, and Healthy Living.
Mr. Cody Edwards and Mr. Andrew McFetridge shared a promotional video and provided an overview of the telethon events.There will be 14 schools represented at the telethon, with a total of 25 performances. In honor of the District’s 125thanniversary there will be 5 interview features, each breaking down a period of history over the last 125 years. In addition, video pieces will highlight 5 diverse projects currently taking place in the district.
Mr. Edwards thanked the Telethon Committee for their hard work and dedication to the telethon and recognized Medicine Hat School District No. 76 and SHAW for their major sponsorship.
Donations of all sizes are appreciated and can be made through the pledge line at 403–526–0726.
2.MyPlace Project
The MyPlace Project is a Mental Health Capacity Building Expansion Project for children and families that support a school-based community mental health promotion and prevention program. Many partners in the community support the work being done to provide the collaborative services to students in grades seven and eight in Alexandra Middle School and Crescent Heights High School.
The project targets specifically identified students that are at-risk and experiencing difficulties. Intervention strategies prevent the difficulties from increasing in seriousness and frequency, and thereby reduce the need for more costly levels of intervention in the future.
The team has been successful in reaching many students and families, in promoting resiliency, wellness and connectedness to the school. After school programming is open to all students in the school, and includes activities such as physical wellness, volunteer work, family nights and one on one support. The project also touches on timely topics such as internet safety and drug awareness. Parenting classes arebeing offered, to further assist with the success of the project. Summer programming is available and offers valuable support to prepare students for the transition to junior high school in September.
3.Capacity Building Initiatives
A variety of capacity building initiatives are taking place in the district. These include Collaborative Learning, Professional Development, Instructional Leadership and Mentorship.
The district focus is on enhanced instruction for improved learning and the need for building capacity to achieve sustainability. Thegoal is to maintain focus on improved learning over the long term and to recognize that this is not a project but a district-wide commitment. The common language around instructional intelligence is evident throughout the district and skills being developed will be valuable tools to move forward.
A culture of collaborative learning is being created within the district, by developing school based and district learning teams and providing built in collaborative time and effective professional development.
New teachers are provided with supports and opportunities to become part of this culture, through the new teacher orientation sessions, the mentorship program, and professional development opportunities in the area of instructional intelligence.
4. Budget Presentation Update
The Secretary Treasurer provided an update regarding the impact of the recently announced provincial budget cuts.
The base grant funding for 2011-2012 will increase by $1,863,000. Cuts to other grants will total $1,338,000 for a net grant increase of $525,000 for 2011-2012.
Salaries are expected to increase to $2,370,000, leaving a cash shortfall for 2011-2012 of $1,845,000, followed by a further decrease in grants of $401,000 in 2012-2013.
VI.ITEMS FOR ACTION
1.Medicine Hat Christian School Field Trip to Europe
At the January 13, 2011 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees a request was presented by the Medicine Hat Christian School for an out-of-country field trip. The trip was approved, in principle, subject to various conditions. All conditions set out by the Board have now been met. Ms. Michelle Hymanyk was in attendance to respond to any questions the Board may have.
86. Ms. ForbesTHAT the Board of Trustees give final approval for the Medicine Hat Christian School field trip to Europe for the period April 19-27, 2011.
CARRIED
2.Policies for Board Review
The Board has approved a plan for reviewing policies. At this meeting the following policies were reviewed:
a)Policy 410 – District Budget Process
Recommended amendment to:
Guideline 3 - addition of “and monitoring”, to read as follows:
“Once the goals and priorities have been established and financial resources allocated, the expenditure and monitoring of funds within the guidelines established by the board is the responsibility of the designated district or school-based administrator.”
87. Dr. WilsonTHAT revised Policy 410: District Budget Process be approved as amended.
CARRIED
b)Policy 420 - Purchasing
Recommended amendments to:
Administrative Procedures 420 P 001, as follows:
Procedures #5 – Capitalize “Departments” under heading “Schools or Departments”
Procedure # 9 d) iv) – add apostrophe to “supplier’s”
88. Mr. MassiniTHAT revised Policy 420: Purchasing beforwarded to the Coordinating Committee for review, with the recommended amendments.
CARRIED
3.Procedure 401 P 001: Delegation of Signing Authority
The Finance Department determined that procedures should be established to outline protocol for signing authority. The attached procedures have been reviewed by the Coordinating Committee.
Recommended amendment to:
Administrative Procedures, as follows:
Procedure #10 – should read “Assistant Secretary Treasurer”, not “Associate Secretary Treasurer”.
89. Mr. BenderTHAT Procedure 401 P 001: Delegation of Signing Authoritybe approved as amended.
CARRIED
4.CHHS Field Trip to Rome, Athens, Greek Islands and Turkey
At the June 1, 2010 Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, a request was presented by Crescent Heights High School for an out-of-country field trip to Rome, Athens, Greek Islands and Turkey on April17-28, 2011.
Ms. Heather McCaig, teacher, advised on February 18, 2011 that they will not be going ahead with the trip due to a lack of interest.
5. Naming Facilities Committee – Appointment of Chair
Mr. Bender was appointed as Chair of the Committee for Naming Facilities.
6. Commissioner for Oaths
The trustees have in the past been designated as Commissionerfor Oaths. The Board was asked if they wish to continue with this practice. It was felt that further information was needed prior to making a decision on this matter.
Mr. Massini will investigate and will bring this item back to the next conference committee meeting for consideration.
VII.MOVE TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
90. Mr. MassiniTHAT the Board move to Committee of the Whole to discuss certain confidential matters.
CARRIED
The Board moved to Committee of the Whole at 8:50p.m.
VIII.RECONVENE TO OPEN BOARD MEETING
The Board reconvened to the open board meeting at 9:43 p.m.
IX.ACTION ARISING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING
91. Ms. Forbes THATthe Board ratify the CUPE Clerical Collective Agreement, as presented.
CARRIED
X.ADJOURMENT
92. Mr. MassiniTHAT the meeting adjourn.
CARRIED
The meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
______
CHAIR
______
SECRETARY