Concerns over a lunch program, new standards for video surveillance and a public appeal to stop vandalism highlighted the Flin Flon school board’s final meeting before summer break.
At the meeting, held last Tuesday, June 23, trustees heard from Tara Dutcawich, who advocates changes for the student lunch program at École McIsaac School.
In a letter, Dutcawich wrote that since many students only use the program as needed, there is no way for supervisors to prepare for the number of children who will attend on a given day.
“I don’t think that the supervision is always adequate considering that it is not uncommon for there to be more than 40 eating children and there are only two supervisors daily,” she wrote.
Dutcawich is further concerned that the space utilized by the lunch program is inadequate.
“I have seen the children crowd around the tables,” she wrote, adding “it would be beneficial to organize the children into age groups.”
Dutcawich, a parent who is also connected to the school through her work as a public health nurse, also called on the board to propose healthier lunch options to parents who send their kids to school with mostly junk food.
She said she understands the board’s food policy pertains to food prepared or served by the school, but “it would be in the school’s interest to adjust the policy” so parents receive suggestions for more nutritious lunches.
Trustees referred Dutcawich’s letter to the committee level for further review. A copy will also be sent to McIsaac for staff at the school to review.
Meanwhile, trustees proposed a new policy covering video surveillance in the schools and in school buses.
The policy calls for video recordings to be erased within 60 days, unless they are being retained for a specific reason, and for the recordings to be stored in a locked filing cabinet in an area away from student and public access.
It further dictates that all surveillance camera locations be authorized by the school principal and reported to the superintendent of schools. Before surveillance is introduced to a new location, a report must be submitted to the superintendent.
The policy also requires that public notification signs, “clearly written and prominently displayed,” be at areas subject to surveillance – in most cases.
“Any exception to this, such as for a time limited specific investigation into criminal conduct, must be authorized by the Superintendent of Schools on the grounds that covert surveillance is essential to the success of the investigation,” reads the proposed policy, “and the need outweighs the privacy interest of the persons likely to be observed. Covert surveillance may not be authorized on an ongoing basis.”
Video surveillance has been used at Flin Flon schools for several years, assisting in resolving incidents such as theft, vandalism and inappropriate behaviour.
When necessary, footage can also be shared with the school division’s insurance provider.
The board gave notice of motion of the new policy, meaning it will not come to a final vote until trustees begin meeting for the 2015-16 school year.
As well, Assistant Superintendent Dean Grove appealed to the public to help stop vandalism and other illegal behaviour around the schools during the summer.
“We encourage anyone to keep their eyes open and report any suspicious activities – including graffiti, use of drugs or alcohol and signs of break and enter – at any of our schools over the summer months,” wrote Grove in a report he delivered in Superintendent Blaine Veitch’s absence. “Prevention of these incidents reduces costs in both time and money and helps ensure our schools are ready for our children in the fall.”
Highlights
Other highlights from the Tuesday, June 23 school board meeting:
• Assistant Superintendent Dean Grove announced the provincial government will provide $20,100 to support the Family Room at Ruth Betts Community School. Grove said the room plays a “vital role.”
• Trustees referred the matter of student attendance to the committee level for further discussion. “We just want to look at procedures for attendance and how things are done with kids and things like that, just because we think it needs revision,” said Trustee Trish Sattelberger, board chairwoman. “We just want to have a look at it.”
• Trustees voted to second Hapnot Collegiate teacher Beatrice Walker for 20 per cent of her working hours so she may fulfill the duties required for her two-year term on the provincial executive of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society.
• Trustees finalized a new policy to cover advertising in the schools. It states in part that the school division “shall allow the use of certain programs, products or services from private sources which support and enrich a student’s educational program but in no way subject students and their families to undue influence from commercial, cultural, political or religious organizations.”
• Trustees approved a request from Assistant Superintendent Grove to fundraise for the Junior Varsity Volleyball Championships to be held in Flin Flon this November.
