Education officials are assuring high-schoolers they will have enough room for their vehicles as a mystery building eats up much of the Hapnot Collegiate student parking lot.
Sources have told The Reminder that the building, under construction since mid-November, will house a vocational training centre as well as a garage for the school division’s two minibusses.
The official announcement on the provincially funded building was scheduled to come today from Premier Greg Selinger and Education Minister James Allum.
At last week’s Flin Flon school board meeting, Trustee Murray Skeavington, board chair, said students who drive to Hapnot need not worry.
“There will be enough (parking) when it’s all said and done and we can sort some stuff out,” he said.
Trustee Glenn Smith, a former Hapnot principal, said that at one time a portion of the teacher parking area was open to student vehicles.
“I suppose that could be a possibility again because there’s certainly a lot of empty spaces (in the teacher area) now,” he said, noting that he had counted at least 25 earlier in the day.
Other highlights from the Nov. 26 board meeting:
• The board voted to nominate Trustee Skeavington for re-election as regional director of the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA).
The vote was not unanimous, however, with trustees Trish Sattelberger and Tim Davis opposed. Trustee Skeavington abstained.
The MSBA will hold its elections for the 2014-15 year this coming March. Trustee Skeavington is currently the regional director.
• Tammy Ballantyne, principal of Ruth Betts Community School, spoke on her school’s goals for attendance, literacy and numeracy growth, and reduced bullying.
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Ruth Betts has a long list of initiatives to achieve these objectives, from positive communication with parents to an anonymous reporting system for bullying.
Ballantyne announced that Ruth Betts has a new motto: “Ruth Betts ROARS,” which stands for Respect, Organization, Acceptance, Responsibility and Safety.
Joining her for the presentation was Ruth Betts teacher Amber Kubat.
• Superintendent Blaine Veitch announced the school division has received a federal grant worth $40,000 for its Engaging All Learners and Peer Partners educational programs.
• Hapnot teachers Daniel Dillon and Sandra Garinger spoke on the high school travel club’s proposed trip to Greece in 2015.
The excursion would include walking and island tours as well as stops at museums and temples, among various other highlights.
Forty-three students have expressed an interest in participating, but not all are expected to go should the school board give their stamp of approval to the trip.
• In delivering his chair’s report, Trustee Skeavington urged parents to fill the gymnasiums for the upcoming school Christmas concerts.
He also wished high school and junior high sports teams good luck in weekend competition.
Workers at the site of the new building earlier this month.
PHOTO BY JONATHON NAYLOR
