Minutes of Regular School Board Meeting

November 18, 2004

 

 

Location:            Regional Office, Grand Falls-Windsor

 

Present:

 

Mr. Bill Sceviour (Chair)                                     Mr. Randell Mercer, Director

Mr. Clar Brown                                                  Mr. Charlie McCormack

Ms. Linda Cutler                                                   Ms. Claudine Wells

Mr. Randy Edison                                                  Mr. Shawn Brace

Mr. Greg Roberts                                                            Ms. Bonnie Lane-McCarthy

Ms. Lisa Wheeler                                                          

Ms. Carolyn Andrews

 

Regrets:                                                                        Regrets:

 

Mr. Terry Brown                                                  Ms. Marina Hewlett

Mr. Scott Pritchett

Mr. Gerald Hounsell

 

Mr. Darryl Murphy was also in attendance for a presentation to the Board on the “Active Schools Project”.

 

1.            Approval of Agenda

 

At the Chair’s request to review the agenda, the date change of the meeting was noted.  Because of a postponement due to poor weather the regular meeting date, November 16, 2004 was rescheduled to November 18, 2004.

 

Motion:            to approve the agenda as circulated.  (Edison/Cutler).  Carried.

 

2.         Minutes of Meetings

 

            2.1            Regular Meeting – October 19, 2004

 

Motion:            to accept the minutes of the October 19, 2004 as circulated. (Andrews/Cutler).  Carried

 

 

 

 

3.            Business Arising

 

            3.1            Capital Priorities

 

There has been a meeting with the Director, Assistant Director-Finance and the 3 Operations Managers to review the capital priorities for the new district.

 

The capital priorities submission will be discussed a Finance and Property Meeting prior to its consideration by the Board.

 

6.         New Business

 

6.1            Presentation – Active Schools Project – Darryl Murphy

 

It was agreed to move the presentation by Mr. Murphy to the beginning of the meeting.

 

·        Mr. Murphy circulated a handout on the “Active Schools Project”

·        The project integrates 20 minutes per day of non-competitive, fun physical activities into the classroom.

·        There are 5 pilot schools participating in the pilot project:

-  Greenwood Academy – Campbellton

-  Gill Memorial Academy – Musgrave Harbour

-  Smallwood Academy - Gambo

-  Lewisporte Academy – Lewisporte

-  William Mercer Academy – Dover

·        The above schools were initially selected under the former “Lewisporte/Gander School District” and is targeted at primary/elementary children.  The origin of this project came out of a district principals retreat designed to focus on the safe and healthy school component of the District Strategic Plan.

·        The program tries to address the physical inactivity of many children.

·        It is anticipated that this project will be expanded into other schools in the district for the next school year.

 

3.2            Minister’s Visit

 

There will be an opportunity for board members to meet with the Minister of Education during the official school opening at New World Island on November 24^th.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.         Reports

 

4.1            Finance & Property Committee

 

In the absence of committee chair, Mr. Pritchett, there was no report presented.  The recently scheduled meeting of the committee was postponed due to poor weather. 

 

Mr. Brace advised the board that there was information in each board member package concerning the trustee insurance package from the NLSBA.

 

4.2            Governance & System Review Committee

 

·        In the absence of committee chair, Mr. Terry Brown, Mr. Sceviour raised the matter concerning whether all committee meeting minutes should come before the full board for approval. 

·        There was also a discussion pertaining to whether the committee should make motions at its meetings or reference notes. 

·        There was also a discussion as to whether the issues that were debated at a committee meeting will also have a full debate at a regular board meeting.

·        The discussion then focused on the leadership styles of management.

·        Trustees expressed their concern about receiving information that they need in order to make an informed decision.

·        Trustees suggested that committee reports be posted two weeks prior to the regular board meeting.  These reports would only be available to the trustees and not to the public.

·        It was also suggested that perhaps the Executive of the Board meet on this matter and bring back a recommendation to the full board on these procedural matters.

·        Preliminary discussion on School Restructuring

·        Preliminary discussion on Electoral Zones

 

4.3            Programming & Personnel Committee

 

Committee Chair, Carolyn Andrews reported don the proceedings of a committee meeting held on November 3.

 

·        Correspondence from a parent raising concerns regarding CDLI. Programming was addressed.  The Committee will review the set up and guidelines for the operation of CDLI.

·        There was a discussion on policy development on the hiring of personnel.

·        There will be a single teacher liaison committee put in place for the Nova Central School District.

 

Motion:            that there be a single liaison committee for Nova Central School District and that the board representatives include the three Program/Personnel Committee Members and the Assistant Director-Personnel.  Further, that for 2004-05 that the Board is willing to consider a request for more NLTA member representatives than Board representatives on this committee.  (Andrews/Edison).  Carried.

 

·        Review of Terms of Reference for the committee was also discussed.

·        Next meeting scheduled for December 7^th at 5:00 PM in Gander.

 

4.4       Social Strategic Plan – Central Regional Steering Committee

 

Mr. Randy Edison, Board representative on this committee, reported on discussions at the November 18, 2004 meeting of CRSC.

·        Mr. Edison advised there will be a written report coming later.

·        At this point, the future of the Committee is uncertain.

·        There was a discussion on after school bussing as it relates to after school activities.

 

4.5            Director’s Report

 

·        The Director informed the board that he has spent a considerable amount of time visiting schools in the western side of the district.  So far, he has visited 25 schools.

·        The Director’s report was circulated to all trustees.

 

Motion:            to accept the staffing recommendation as contained in the Director’s Report.  (Edison/Brown).  Carried.

 

·        The Director also provided an update on a number of matters involving the district.

 

Motion:            to accept the Director’s Report.  (C. Brown/Andrews).  Carried.

 

4.6            NLSBA News

 

The Board Chair updated the Board on recent discussion relating to the future of NLSBA.

 

·        There was a meeting held on November 8^th, 2004 with the NLSBA, attended by Board Chairs and Directors of Education.

·        Recommendations from the November 8^th meeting were circulated to board members and will be discussed at the next regular meeting.

 

5.            Correspondence

 

·        Dorset Collegiate – Invitation to attend December 17^th Awards Night.

 

6.         New Business

 

6.2            Professional Development Program

 

Deferred to a later meeting.

 

6.3            Scholarship Programs

 

The Chair reported that we are currently trying to get a handle on the number of scholarships in the district.  The intent is to compile a listing for information purposes.

 

6.4            Registration Fees for School Councils

 

·        The Director needs some direction on the matter of paying registration fees for school councils.

 

·        It was agreed to defer this to the Program-Personnel Committee.

 

Motion:            to extend the meeting beyond 10 PM.  (Brown/Wheeler).

 

Mr. Roberts and Mr. Edison voted against.

 

7.         Closed Session

 

Motion:            to move into Closed Session.  (Andrews/Cutler).  Carried.

 

Motion:            to come out of Closed Session.  (C. Brown/Cutler).  Carried.

 

8.         Date of Next Meeting

 

The date of the next meeting will be December 14^th, 2004 and will be a dinner meeting.

 

9.            Adjournment

 

Motion:            to adjourn the meeting (Edison).  Carried.

 

 

 

_________________________                                  _______________________

William Sceviour                                                           Shawn Brace

Chair                                                                            Recorder

 

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