PSSC Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, February 24th: 6:30 pm – 8:45 pm

In attendance: Nick Mattatall – Principal, Kevin Williams – Vice-Principal, Dale Hughes–Acting Chair, Tamara Nichol – Chair DEC, Diane St. Pierre – Teacher Rep,Janice McNally, Lori Cripps, Christa Gillis, Martha McWilliam, Maeve Murphy, Lisa MacDougall, Jaime McKee

  1. Call to Order
  1. Approval of Minutesby Lisa, seconded by Jaime.

Action: all meeting minutes to be forward to Nick in .doc form, Nick to upload to website.

  1. Next meeting dates: March 31st, April 29th, June 3rd.
  1. Policy 409, presentation by Tamara Nichol, DEC Chair: Tamara shares details of policy 409 and implications for Bessborough and the broader district.

* on Anglophone West website, there is currently a Policy 409 study underway; can read and follow the process.

  1. Policy 409 also known as Sustainability Study; no such reviews over past several years, but presently, Dorchester and Riverside-Albert are being looked at under the policy; any recommended changes would be for Fall 2016.
  2. Capacity issues (< 50%) often main driver for such studies; Bessborough is not experiencing capacity issues at present, but Hillcrest and Edith Cavell may be (Hillcrest @ 53%, Bessborough @ 67%). 80-85% capacity is considered optimal.
  3. In early May, a ‘second wave’ will take place, looking at other area schools (there will be a public meeting).
  4. Options for addressing capacity/409 issues are: 1) Status Quo; 2) Change of Designation; 3) Closure. Note that a boundary change is a separate issue and does not require Policy 409 involvement.
  5. Policy 409 does not impact otherwise approved budget/renovation items.
  6. Newest, current numbers and projections are used by the DEC when making Policy 409 decisions.
  7. Dale notes that BMHS numbers are projected to fall, but Tamara suggests this is likely a broader issue involving other feeder schools, as Bessborough itself is slated to increase.
  8. Tamara emphasizes that closure is never desirable, but at the end of the day, the issue is one of sustainability, district-wide; DEC looks for efficiencies, and holistic solutions. Above all, nobody wants to see educational programming removed.
  9. Janice wonders if it makes sense to seek out our own efficiencies and be proactive in reaching out (to Hillcrest, e.g.) to find solutions (can prove challenging due to a number of factors).
  10. Janice wonders about consolidation and the construction of ‘Super Schools’, but simply no provincial money to do that.
  11. It is likely that our catchment area will see a Sustainability Study in the next few years (though Bessborough highly unlikely to face closure).
  12. In terms of finding efficiencies, Janice wonders if cost-sharing with Francophone district make sense? There are areas of redundancy (busing, etc.), but potential to run into Charter issues.
  13. Nick suggests that if only looking at Facilities, leaving curriculum aside, there should in theory be areas for cooperation and cost savings here, but Bessborough has reached out in the past and met with some resistance.
  14. Tamara suggests that interested parties consider attending the Spring Symposium, with the focus of “Leaving Your Mark on Education”.
  1. Input from Aubrey Kirkpatrick re: options for a Bessborough midlife upgrade: Aubrey sends his regrets; he suggests that Bessborough is a very good candidate for a mid-life upgrade (of which already-approved bathrooms would be a small part).
  2. Nick will meet with Aubrey and architects Feb. 25th re: bathroom renos (valued at ~$500,000).
  3. Action: Nick to update PSSC on this meeting at or before next meeting (Nick sent this update, March 25th)
  4. All bathrooms, staff and student, in building to be included in this renovation; to be completed by Fall 2015.
  1. Update on Military Housing & Resource Centre: Janice informs that it has gone out to public tender; still waiting to hear on bids.
  1. Update on Literacy and ELF program: Bessborough has 10 – 12 volunteers, and 9 students who have taken it up.
  1. Nick explains that we’ve even expanded the criteria, and some students now able to take part in ELF as an enrichment opportunity (at reading levels E-K).
  2. Members express interest in having a thank-you/reward for volunteers at end of year, and encourage them to sign up against for next year.
  1. SIP/SMART Goals:
  2. Dale suggests that the presentation of the SMART goals could be improved upon and made more consistent and uniform (different terminology used by different teachers, etc.). Can we have reports on these goals coinciding with report cards? How do we make the results accessible to parents?
  3. Nick explains that they are published on the website, though more as a post-mortem than a living document.
  4. Lori explains that the goals do exist in more student-friendly language, in the classrooms themselves and in Curriculum Letters
  5. At Hillcrest, such goals are made highly visible with signage; we could do similarly, rotating and refreshing each September or as needed.
  6. Can the language of the goals be standardized somewhat across teachers? How can we as the PSSC interpret and measure these goals and gauge is there are places we can offer support?
  7. What about a kind of Report Card snapshot – broken down by class?
  8. Action: Nick to see about providing this for April meeting (by April 21st) as well as screener data by class.
  1. Motion to Adjourn:Diane, seconded by Janice.
  1. Next meeting, March 31st – Aubrey Kirkpatrick to be in attendance.

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