The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Flin Flon School Division generated $147,271 more this past school year than had been projected, it was noted at Tuesday's school board meeting. Trustee Angela Simpson presented a report stating that the surplus from the 2002-03 budget was $320,965, far higher than the $173,424 that had been anticipated. About half of this favourable variance was attributable to money received from Keewatin Community College for participation in the dual-credit program at Many Faces Education Centre, according to the report. Other contributing factors included tuition billings to Frontier School Division and Pukatawagan, rental fees from the nursing program at Ruth Betts School and a payroll tax refund, the report stated. Trustee Simpson's report noted that some of the extra revenues were offset by additional costs, including increased insurance premiums, unexpectedly high utility costs and workplace safety and health expenses. The school division's total surplus on June 30 was $367,000, which represented about three per cent of annual expenditures. The Public Schools Finance Board recommends that school divisions maintain a surplus of three to five per cent of annual expenditures to cover unexpected costs. The division incurred about $60,000 in unbudgeted expenses this past summer alone, including insurance deductibles relating to the chemical fire at McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac and vandalism at other schools. In another matter at the meeting, Superintendent Blaine Veitch presented the school enrollment figures as of September 30. Overall enrollment at the five schools decreased by 27 students from last year. Parkdale and Many Faces were the only schools to see an increase in students (23 and 15 respectively), while McIsaac, Hapnot and Ruth Betts schools lost 29, 25 and 11 students. Total enrollment now stands at 1,437 students, a decline of 64 pupils since 2001. Superintendent Veitch said that enrollment is about where the division projected it to be. As well, six Hapnot Collegiate students gave the board a presentation on the recent Manitoba Student Leadership Conference in Neepawa. See 'Topics' P.# Con't from P.# They took turns sharing what they learned from the conference, with each having only positive things to say about the event. Hapnot Student Council Co-President Matthew Ryan mentioned that the conference helped him learn how to avoid procrastination. Other comments related to the high level of enthusiasm at the conference, which was attended by 325 students and student activity advisors from across Manitoba on September 12 and 13. Also, Trustee Colleen McKee made a motion that the school division purchase a large wreath ($50) to lay at this year's Remembrance Day service at the R.H. Channing Auditorium. Chair Jim Wilson agreed to represent the division at the ceremony. Revenue from poppy and wreath sales is used by the Royal Canadian Legion to assist veterans, their dependents and supply equipment for the Flin Flon General Hospital. A recap of other matters from the meeting: The board voted to enter into an agreement that will see the NOR-MAN Regional Health Authority help fund the Youth Mentor Program in return for having the mentors provide health promotion activities at participating schools. The contract is for the 2003-04 school year. Chair Wilson noted that French students in the division have raised over $3,000 during their magazine subscription drive. The money will be used to fund an exchange program with a group of students from Quebec. Superintendent Veitch stated that CADAC (Creighton Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council) is providing addictions counselling at Hapnot Collegiate and Many Faces, not the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba as he said at the previous board meeting. A motion passed for the division to enter into a contract with the Big Island Drive In Theatre to again operate the Hapnot Theatre for the 2003-04 year. Superintendent Veitch congratulated Ruth Betts School teacher Chris Gamble on his appointment to the province's Strategic Technology Assisted Professional Learning Environment (STAPLE). He also gave kudos to Hapnot teacher Heather Lytwyn for being a member of the Manitoba Teachers of English Provincial Executive. Chair Wilson noted that student-teacher Connie Atkinson will start at Many Faces next month. She is a student of BUNTEP (Brandon University Northern Teachers Education Program). Chair Wilson mentioned that Minister of Education Ron Lemieux has declared October 19-25 as School Bus Safety Week. The slogan for the week will be "Stay Back from the Yellow and Black."
