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.
FLIN FLON SCHOOL DIVISION Condensed Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees held September 28, 2004 in the Board Room of the Division Office, 9 Terrace Avenue, Flin Flon, Manitoba. Term Contract - The Chair of the Board and Secretary-Treasurer signed a one-day Form 2A term contract with Nancy Last, effective Friday, October 22nd, 2004. PRESENTATIONS Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - School Recognition Award - Physical Education Supervisor, Doug Gawiak, presented the Board of Trustees and Superintendent of Schools with the Quality Physical Education School Recognition Award. The award reads: "The Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) has developed the school physical education standards required for the healthy growth and development of young people. This certificate is awarded to the Flin Flon School Division for their outstanding work in promoting, supporting and encouraging Quality Physical Education in schools. Thank you for your continued commitment to improve student's well being through quality physical education. Congratulations on all your award winning schools." Accepting the award were Chair Murray Skeavington, Vice-Chair Colleen McKee, and Superintendent Blaine Veitch. Congratulations was extended to Mr. Gawiak and the Phys Ed staff on this achievement. The criteria for the award is to have a minimum of 150 minutes of class time per week, with Flin Flon averaging 150-160 minutes of each week in 4 of our schools. Chair Skeavington thanked Mr. Gawiak for the excellent job done hosting the Physical Education Supervisor's Conference at Baker's Narrows the weekend of September 24-26, 2004. Mr. Gawiak responded that feedback from the event was very positive and hosting the conference in Flin Flon provided an excellent opportunity for members attending to see first hand our promotion of outdoor education. Mr. Gawiak thanked the Board for their support. BUSINESS ARISING Board Committee Approval - The 2004/2005 Board Committee listing was approved as prepared at the Inaugural Meeting held September 14, 2004. MTS Liaison - Trustees Ferguson / Simpson / Wilson. The following dates will be suggested to the Flin Flon Teachers' Association President for a MTS Liaison Meeting - Monday, November 15th - 7:30 p.m. or Tuesday, November 16th - 7:00 p.m. Long Range Planning - Committee to meet prior to the community meeting which is scheduled for Wednesday, November 3rd, 2004 - Trustees Davis / McKee / Skeavington. Meeting date confirmed for Wednesday, October 27th, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. ACTION CORRESPONDENCE The following correspondence was received as information: - MAST - 1) Executive Director's Corner to be published bi-monthly to detail MAST actions and emerging developments related to education policy issues and legislation impacting schools and school boards in Manitoba; 2) Submission to the Local Authorities Election Act Review; 3) Manual of Policies and Beliefs; and 4)Northern Region Newsletter. McIsaac Parent Advisory Council Meetings - McIsaac Parent Advisory Council Chairperson, requesting Board representation at their monthly meetings. Response will be sent to the Council indicating the Trustees that will be in attendance. 2005 Resolutions - MAST re: process for 2005 resolutions was referred to the Policy Review / Resolutions Committee. The following items were identified by the Trustees for possible submission: 1) Trustee eligibility timeline for persons having committed crimes against children; and 2) Trustees not being permitted to attend school within their Division/District - contradictory to mandate to educate. Policy Review/Resolutions Committee will meet on Tuesday, October 12th following the regular Board meeting. Nemihitowok Hoop Troupe - Requesting use of the mini gymnasium at Ruth Betts School on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Approved as per policy. Crosswalk - Many Faces Education Center & Traffic - Pine Street - Further correspondence will be forwarded to the City of Flin Flon requesting the painting of a crosswalk at Many Faces Education Center and Highway #10A, and stop signs at Pine & Princess, as previously requested. ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORTS The Superintendent and Secretary-Treasurer reported to the Board on the following divisional matters: World Teacher Day - October 5th is a day identified to celebrate the role of teachers' worldwide. This year's theme was Quality Teachers for Quality Education. Special emphasis is placed on pre-service and in-service training programs, use of research, and developing skills for lifelong learning. Superintendent Veitch expressed his thanks to the Division teaching staff. K-S4 Agenda - A local team joined the Minister's meeting via tele-conference on September 21st. This was a morning of good discussion and there was opportunity to express positive initiatives, possible activities for the Department to improve student learning, and how to continue collaboration between the Department and Divisions, schools and families. The Department also indicated the direction and priorities they are planning over the next few years. These include ongoing commitment to encouraging the success for all students, partnerships, accountability, and taking action. The specific areas of focus included: Special Education and Bill 13; Assessment in the areas of Grade 6 and Senior 1, professional development, and follow up on standards testing results; Aboriginal Student Success; Arts Curriculum; Student Citizenship; Technology and Vocational Education; Including school planning in the budgeting process; and Sustainability & Environmental Education. Minister of Education Visit - Education Minister Peter Bjornson, Deputy Minister Gerald Farthing and MLA Gerard Jennissen spent two and half hours in Flin Flon on September 20th. A tour of Many Faces and Hapnot was followed by a meeting with the Board of Trustees. This was an excellent opportunity for the Division to educate the Department and have our concerns presented directly to key decision makers. Items that were discussed included: Facilities for vocational education; Change rooms at Hapnot; Outdoor recreational facilities; University College of the North and high school partnerships, and the technology infrastructure; Declining enrollment and the effect of the Creighton High School; Provincial funding and the burden on local taxpayers; and School Board elections and ward requirements. Youth Mentors - The Youth Mentors hired for the 2004-05 school year are: The full-time Mentors are: Kyle McKee - McIsaac; Courtney Whitmore - McIsaac; Collette Dubie - Parkdale; Breanne Ballard - Ruth Betts; Eric Kendrick - Parkdale/Ruth Betts; and part-time Mentors: McIsaac - Tyler Beachell, Kyle Holmes, Fredrick Sauter; Parkdale - Joe Mogash, Clayton Geiger; and Ruth Betts - Keith Spencer, Bob Graham. Hapnot Collegiate Undergraduate Awards Ceremony - On Thursday, September 30th at 7:00 p.m. all parents, community members and Trustees were invited to attend the ceremony at Hapnot. Students will be recognized for excellence in a wide variety of academic and leadership areas. Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra - Members of Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra joined band and music students across the Division on September 20th. This excellent learning experience was made possible by the Community Choir, Flin Flon Arts Council, and our music program staff. Thanks was expressed to everyone involved for providing this beneficial opportunity for our students. School News - School photos will be taken by Josten's during the week of October 4th - 8th across the Division. Hapnot Collegiate golf teams placed second in the girls and third in boys Zone 11 championships held in Flin Flon on September 17th. The Senior 4 Leadership class enjoyed their canoe trip to Aimee Lake on September 21st - 23rd. The volleyball teams are also committing to a tournament in Thompson and the soccer teams challenge for the zone championships on the 24th. Good luck to all the athletes and thank you to all of the volunteers that make our sports program a success. Cross country running and junior volleyball teams are also underway across the Division. Congratulations to the Junior Cross Country team who won the Zones and will now travel to Killarney for Provincials. Ruth Betts School hosted a 'Welcome Back' barbeque for students and parents on September 16th. This was a great chance for teachers and parents to get acquainted. September 20th - 24th was 'Terry Fox Week' at the school. A variety of events celebrating Terry's legacy and raising funds for cancer research took place. The first school assembly will be held on October 1st at 3:15 p.m. Community Meeting - The fall meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 3rd at 7:00 p.m. in the McIsaac School Ecole McIsaac gymnasium. Information on the possible solutions to declining enrollment, that were identified in the spring, will be shared. Staff, students and community members are encouraged to attend. The public was reminded that this is a change of venue from what was previously indicated. 2002/2003 FRAME Reports - The 2002/2003 FRAME report is available through the office of the Secretary-Treasurer for anyone wishing to review. The document presents actual financial data and statistics for the 2002/2003 school year for all school divisions in Manitoba. It also provides analysis and comparisons in a variety of areas, such as expenditures per student, cost per student in regular instruction, special needs, maintenance, administration, enrolment data as well as many other bits of information. The report is also available on the internet in both PDF and Excel formats at the following website: www.edu.gov.mb.ca/ks4/finance/facts . Hard copies can also be requested through the Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth office in Winnipeg at a cost of $5.00 per copy. Pay Accounts - The Division accounts as at September 21, 2004 in the amount of $214,995.43, inclusive of cheque numbers 236 through 351, will be paid. REPORTS Teacher Professional Development Committee - September 20, 2004 - Trustee Wilson. Division Technology Committee - September 20, 2004 - Trustee Davis. Workplace Safety & Health Committee - September 15, 2004 - Trustee Mitchell. Building inspections were completed with twelve members thoroughly inspecting all School Division buildings as mandated in the legislation. Trustee Mitchell was impressed with the process - by breaking into 4 groups and each taking an area of the building the entire inspection was completed in one day. A number of concerns were noted and the Board was made aware. The committee will review the entire inspection package at their October 6th meeting. Trustee Education Committee - September 20, 2004 - Trustee Simpson. This is a MAST Committee which is working on professional development for the March convention. The Committee is looking for ideas that will bring northern Trustees together to discuss rural issues. Suggestions and/or recommended speakers are welcome and should be passed on to Trustee Simpson by the end of October. CHAIR'S REPORT Congratulations - On behalf of the Board, Chair Skeavington congratulated the Junior Cross Country Team on winning the Zones and wished them the best of luck in the Provincials. NEW BUSINESS Trustee Requests -As Per Policy 2:6 - All Trustees - MAST Special Meeting - October 23rd, 2004 - Winnipeg and/or the Fall workshop entitled Superintendent Recruitment, Selection, and Evaluation - December 2nd and 3rd, 2004 - Winnipeg. Information correspondence was made available for review. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. School Board meetings are held the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Division Office Board Room located at 9 Terrace Avenue. The next regular meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 26, 2004. Board of Trustees: Murray Skeavington-Chair; Colleen McKee-Vice-Chair; Trustees: Tim Davis, Donna Ferguson, Gordon Mitchell, Angela Simpson, Jim Wilson.
