SD5 Board Notes

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Posted: December 16, 2024

The following is a summary of board motions carried during the December 10 School District No. 5 Southeast Kootenay(SD5) School Board of Trustees meeting.

Motions Carried

THAT an invitation be written by the Board of Education, requesting the new Minister of Education and Child Care, Lisa Beare, visit Cranbrook and tour Mount Baker Secondary School. This letter will also include documentation of the telephone discussions between Board Chair Doug McPhee and the Minister of Education and Child Care. A letter will also be written to the Minister of Infrastructure, Bowinn Ma, to document telephone discussions with Chair McPhee.

THAT the Mission, Vision and Values for the French Immersion program be approved as presented.

THAT the finalized Strategic Plan for School District No. 5 (Southeast Kootenay) be approved, published and distributed.

CHAIR’S REPORT

From the province

Who’s on First? The classic comedy routine of the Abbott and Costello could be used as the backdrop to the assignment of elected staff into positions of responsibility at the Ministry level. The new Minister of Education is Lisa Beare and comes to that position with experience in post-secondary education. We had an opportunity to hear her speak at the recent BCSTA conference and all indications are that she will fill the role admirably.

In the interim, December leads gradually into discussions concerning the development of the new budget for the upcoming 2025-26 school year. Hopefully, all hands at the provincial level will be in place to support and guide the process. The anticipated sign-off date is in the middle of June with considerable work and community consultation involved.

At the District Level

Plans for Amy Woodland Elementary School are yet to be determined. A public meeting was held during Committee Day and a scheduled Community Consultation Meeting was held shortly after. The district shared population projections for Cranbrook area schools and discussed possible boundary changes.

For 2025 and budget processes, students currently assigned to schools will continue to be assigned to their current school. The exceptions will be:

Students in Grade 6 who will articulate into one of the two middle schools for Grade 7,

Students entering Kindergarten in September and for which any anticipated boundary changes might be in effect.

Parent requests to have current or future school placements changes. Those requests are address through submission to the Board Office.

More information will be shared as it is made available.

Fernie Elementary School planning is well underway. An architectural firm was chosen, and an initial planning session was held at the Board Office. Over the weekend, a representative group travelled to Red Deer, AB to view several schools that had been recently developed by the firm we are engaging.

The board continues to work on the following initiatives:

Before and After School Care in all communities;
Redeveloping the function of Mountain View Elementary;
Proposals to develop teacher accommodation and Day Care in Elkford.

Strategic Plan for 2024-28

The Strategic Plan for the 2024-28 period has been released and is available on the website. The plan states a philosophical “check and balance” for future decision-making involving education, students and staff. “Caring, safe and welcoming schools” is just one of the key indicators and goals under this plan.

Learning Together is a monthly publication on interesting and engaging facts and activities in SD 5. It is always an enjoyable read and readily available on the website.

Board Chair Election

As part of the procedural bylaw, each year the board elects a Board Chair for the following year. Doug McPhee was elected and wishes to extend his thanks to the board.