Highlights from Tuesday’s Flin Flon school board meeting:
Surveillance boost
Trustees voted to draw $11,000 from surplus to finish installing additional security cameras at the schools.
That’s in addition to $40,000 previously budgetted for new cameras and related equipment.
Trustee Trish Sattelberger, board chair, said the board hoped the original investment would supply enough cameras to cover all pertinent areas. It turned out that wasn’t the case.
“Considering that we have had issues with security, we wanted to make sure that we were well secure,” said Sattelberger. “So it’s costing us a little more to do that.”
Sattelberger didn’t know off hand how many extra cameras are being installed. Installation is scheduled to wrap up before the end of June.
The security issues Sattelberger referenced include two break-ins at École McIsaac School earlier this winter.
Committee sought
Trustees voted to request the establishment of an ad-hoc committee with the City of Flin Flon.
Sattelberger said there are issues for the two sides to discuss.
“And I think they’re [the city] just trying to work on the relationship between the school board and city,” she added.
The board also voted to refer the matter of trustee involvement in schools to the Policy Review / Resolutions Committee for further discussion.
Training
Cam Mateika, regional technical vocational coordinator, delivered a presentation on initiatives around vocational training.
Based in Swan River, Mateika applauded the provincial government for its support of vocational education.
“I really believe the government is open to doing more in vocational education across the province,” he told trustees.
Mateika also complimented the board on the Technical Vocational Institute now operating beside Hapnot Collegiate.
“You’re doing some great things in your shop there,” he said.
Mateika’s presentation stressed the importance of teaching students in-demand skills.
At one point he quoted Nobel Peace Prize recipient Martii Ahtisaari, who said that a young, angry unemployed man is the biggest threat to world peace.
Young scientists
Superintendent of Schools Blaine Veitch announced the Flin Flon Citywide Science Fair will be held Wednesday, March 4 at the RH Channing Auditorium.
The fair will once again combine projects from students at McIsaac and Ruth Betts schools. Public viewing will begin at 4:30 pm with awards at 7 pm.
Veitch said the school division is also seeking male chaperones for the Northern Manitoba Regional Science Fair taking place in Thompson on April 18.
