Minutes of Regular
Board Meeting
March 20th,
2007 7:00 PM
Location: Regional Office, Grand
Falls-Windsor
Present:
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Dr.
Mr.
Ms. Ann Sparkes
Mr. Robert Hannaford
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Regrets:
Ms.
Ms.
1. Welcome
The Chair welcomed the Board Members and staff.
2. Approval of Agenda
Motion: to approve the
agenda as circulated with the following changes/additions:
Section 3 remove Closed Session – February 20th, 2007
15. NLSBA
Constitution
16. Special
Incentives – Decision required
(Brown/Hannaford). Carried.
3. Minutes of Meetings
3.1 Regular Meeting February 20th,
2007
Motion: to accept the
minutes of the February 20th, 2007 meeting with the following
amendments (Budgell/George). Carried.
Correction:
6.1 Delete
sentence - Any trustee who will be attending
any conference in the future will be expected to provide a written report upon
return from the conference.
Omission: Last paragraph on page 4 of February 20 minutes.
Mr. Noble was opposed to dealing with the
issue without the Board considering the impact on its long-term restructuring
plan.
Typo page 4 and page 5. (Corrected on official set of minutes)
4. Executive Committee Report
The Minutes of the Executive Meeting of March 12, 2007 were circulated. The following items were discussed:
Mr. George encouraged all Board members to make an effort to fill out meeting evaluation forms.
Mr. Hannaford expressed support for the need for a protocol to avoid having motions put to the floor cold.
There was discussion on the need for the Executive Minutes to be dealt with in a closed session. They are put in Board members’ folders for information only.
Motion: to move into a closed session. (Brown/Langdon). Carried.
Motion: to come out of
the closed session. (Woolfrey/Pritchett). Carried.
6. Financial Report
This was carried over from the previous Board Meeting of February 20, 2007. The Board needs acceptance of the quarterly financial statement.
Mr. Noble asked questions on overspending:
page 4 item #12 – Building
#15 –
#16 – Pupil Transportation
Mr. Brace provided explanations on the figures, they are 100% receivables. The pupil transportation was for the purchase of new buses. This money will be received from Government.
Mr. Noble asked a question on General Supplies. Mr. Brace explained how the four categories are divided for school expenditures. As the expenditures come in from schools, they are applied to the proper area. Mr. Noble was concerned about the areas on which schools spend their money, example, school libraries. Ms. Fleet noted that senior management is also concerned that libraries be appropriately funded.
Mr. Noble asked about miscellaneous. Mr. Brace explained that this represents funds from federal programs such as Service Canada and French programs.
Dr. Woolfrey asked about the numbers under Director and Assistant Director salaries. Mr. Brace explained that the SEO positions were not reflected in the budgeted amounts.
Mr. Hannaford requested, for a future meeting, a presentation by Mr. Brace on Financial Reports. There was general agreement for this suggestion.
Mr. Brace said he could provide the presentation if the Board requested.
Motion: to accept the quarterly financial report. (Langdon/Budgell). Carried.
Mr. George suggested the Board needs a financial committee to deal with the details of financial operations of the Board.
7. Report of Finance and Property Committee
1. Restructuring
To be addressed in the Director’s report.
2. Request from Town of
The Town of
Mr. Langdon suggested
the financial committee prepare pros and cons of the proposal.
Ms. Fleet indicated a
former legal opinion said the Board should not sell the land but enter into a
user agreement with the town of
Dr. Woolfrey agreed with
the point made by the Director.
Mr. Noble suggested
there be clarification on the ownership of the land and the location of the
building in case it interfered with any future expansion to
Mrs. Fleet pointed out
that the request was for approval in principle so the Town could build
washrooms.
Motion: To
approve in principle the request from the Town of
8. Report of Communications’ Committee
No report from committee.
9.
The Director referred to the last
meeting report re: transfer of students
to Phoenix Academy from Gill Memorial Academy, Musgrave Harbour, the recommendation was for students to remain
at Gill Memorial Academy for the next school year and assess the population of
both schools to determine the appropriate time for high school students to move
to Phoenix Academy. The plan originally
was to move to
The Minister of Education raised the issue of moving the high school students from communities. The District has recommended moving senior high students in three communities for programming purposes. The Minister suggested parents only want core graduation requirements and want students to stay in their own communities. The Director feels a discussion with parent re students staying in the school is important.
There
is not a lot of resistance for moving the 10-12 students from Lumsden. The bus
ride is approximately 25-30 minutes.
There is a lot of resistance for moving the students from
The Chair noted the Minister stated there will be no pressure from government to close schools and to move students.
Concern was expressed that opposition from schools may ensue.
Discussion around class size was expressed.
Mrs. Fleet told
the Board that there was not enough room in
Motion: to accept the Director’s recommendation that the high
school students remain in
Mr. Brown was concerned that the Board still does not know the number of teachers the Board will receive from Government.
10. Botwood Collegiate/L. P. Purchase
The Chair referenced a letter from the School Council. Renovations are ongoing at Botwood Collegiate. The final renovation is for skilled trades. The Director informed the Board that the principal of the school has submitted a proposal to utilize L. P. Purchase. The Director brought forward the minutes from June 29th, 2006 meeting which indicated that L. P. Purchase would close. The Director highlighted incentives money which comes about from school closures.
This year the government did not fund the Board for any operational costs for L. P. Purchase. Shawn Brace has approached government for money for utilization of the building this year. The operating cost of this building is over $97,000 per year. If the Board decides not to close the building, the board will need to cover this cost.
Inclusionary Model
Special needs students utilizing another building can create the impression of exclusion. The Director believes there is enough room in the current building to house students. The District is moving from alternate schools to alternate settings.
Barbara Palmer explained some of the concerns expressed by schools and the District around the alternate schools. Many schools cannot access the alternate schools because of transportation issues. It is much preferable to apply for criteria units for the extremely challenged students. Ms. Fleet pointed out the financial issues related to alternate schools.
Mr. Kendell, Chair, led the discussion on the Botwood Collegiate/L.P. Purchase issue. He pointed out the minutes of the Board Meeting June 29, 2006, where L. P. Purchase was included in the request to borrow based on the special incentives.
The school council of Botwood Collegiate expressed concern about the space available in Botwood Collegiate. Mr. Hannaford wanted to be sure there was appropriate space in Botwood Collegiate for the Student Support Services programs at Botwood Collegiate. Barbara Palmer will visit the school and meet with the Principal to go over the space in the school which would be most appropriate for the six students in student support services.
Mr. Noble pointed out that, in the long range plan, there was consideration to use the property if there was to be a K-12 school in that area in the future.
There was a discussion on the potential future need for land around Botwood Collegiate. The board members discussed the cost of keeping L. P. Purchase open for very few students.
Mr. Hannaford pointed out the need to move the few special needs students back into Botwood Collegiate from L. P. Purchase.
Mr. Brace pointed out that the agreement with the Pentecostal Assemblies requires the property be turned back to the church.
11. Programs (Presentation – Public Examinations)
12. Director’s Report
The Director noted her report is posted on the website. She has put in what has been completed and what is coming next.
The Management Plan is updated and we are on target.
Restructuring
· Sandstone Elementary – the Director told the Board this is supposed to happen later.
·
She also plans to visit
· She also stated that she will need to go to South Brook to meet with parents.
· Dr. Woolfrey inquired if the tender for Exploits Valley Intermediate has been awarded. The Director replied in the affirmative. She noted that nothing official has been received but she had checked with the Department of Education and they informed her that Bluebird Construction has the tender.
· Lumsden: The Director is waiting for written input from Lumsden parents.
13. Organizational Chart
Deferred to next meeting.
14. NLTA Liaison Committee
Mr. Noble made a verbal report on the two sets of minutes of the NLTA Liaison Committee. (see attached).
The next meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2007.
15. NLSBA Constitution Amendments (see attached)
Ms. Fleet provided the background to the Constitution Amendments.
Mr. Kendell had made a few grammatical change suggestions. He indicated there were no big changes in the proposed amendments.
Motion: The
16. Special Incentives (see attached)
Motion: to request permission from the Minister to apply the
following 2005-06 expenditures to the balance of Special Incentive funding
available for 2005-06,
|
Furniture & Equipment and Program Changes |
162,580 |
|
Music Equipment |
120,000 |
|
Parking Lot – Woodland Primary |
20,700 |
|
Parking Lot – |
24,900 |
|
Parking Lot – |
10,000 |
|
Computer Equipment & Renovations |
25,000 |
|
|
363,180 |
and to apply the following 2006-07 expenditures
to the balance of special Incentives funding available for 2006-07,
|
|
98,000 |
|
Furniture & Equipment |
150,000 |
|
St. Stephen’s |
175,000 |
|
CDLI Rooms |
20,000 |
|
Fitness Rooms |
25,000 |
|
|
468,000 |
(Woolfrey/Langdon). Carried.
17. Correspondence
Mr. Kendell read a letter from the Minister re community use of schools.
18. Date of Next Meeting
The next regular
board meeting will be held on April 17th, 2007, 7:00 PM at District Office,
19. Adjournment
Motion: to adjourn the meeting 10:20 PM (Brown/Harris).
Carried
_____________________________ ____________________________
Chair Recorder
CMcC/fg