Alberta School Board Association, Zone 5

Minutes – October 29/99

 

Call To Order                                   Pat Stutz called Annual General Meeting to order at 9:40 AM.

 

Introduction                         Pat Stutz welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

In Attendance                                  Pat Stutz                                 Canadian Rockies                                                                John Neill                               Prairie Land

Ron Taylor                              Alberta Learning Regional               Linda Wellman                                    Calgary Catholic                  

                                                John Murray                           Rocky View

                                                George Walker                                  ASBA Headquarters

                                                Terry Patey                            Rocky View

                                                Maureen Munro                                 Rocky View

                                                Cindy Berry                            Rocky View

                                                Lorne Kosack                                    Rocky View

                                                Kathy Smith                           Golden Hills

                                                Karen Harries                                    Golden Hills

                                                Shirley Reinhardt                   Golden Hills

                                                Graham Sewell                                  Foothills

                                                Colleen Brownlee                  Rocky View (Superintendent)

                                                Arlene Dow                            Prairie Land (Sec Treasurer)



Adoption of Agenda                      Additions and Amendments:

Guest Speaker:  Cathy Faber – Calgary Public Virtual Schooling

 New Business

                                                            b. National Elections for Rights of Youths

                                                            c. Fees

                                                            d. New Initiatives for Youth

Linda  Wellman moved that the agenda be adopted as amended.  Carried.

 

 

Adoption of Minutes          Errors or Omissions:  Terry Patey and Kim Salkeld of Rocky View were in attendance.

 Shirley Reinhardt moved that the minutes of September 24,     1999 be adopted as amended.

Carried.

 

Business Arising from the           The draft Handbook will be held over till Dec 10 so Calgary

Minutes                                 Public can have an opportunity to review.  The Handbook is to be put in small binder to accommodate change.

                                               

The Role of Zones will be included in the Handbook.  It will be sent out to Zones through the Board rep in November (3-4 pages) and input is required  by the December 10 meeting.  Once the Zone has approved the draft, the Handbook will be  sent to Edmonton for input and finalized in January

 

Correspondence                none

 

 

 

Board Sharing                                Maureen Munro  – Rocky View

*   At their reorganization meeting Terry Patey was nominated Zone 5 rep for Rocky View;

*   Lorne Kosack is now Chairman of Board;

*   A meeting was held regarding the $305 per student one-time funding with parent reps from School Councils;  further discussion was tabled to the end of November; and

*   Written report attached.

 

 

John Neill – Prairie Land

*   The Board is asking for proposals from schools with a mid November deadline , re the one-time $305 per student funding; and

*   Negotiations have begun with the ATA and Support Staff.

 

 

Linda Wellman – Calgary Catholic

*   Calgary Catholic is concerned that the one-time $305 funding will be targeted by Alberta Infrastructure to capital projects;

*   District now has 43,200 students which represents a growth of 900 students;

*   The Superintendent’s contract has been renewed for five years;

*   Labour negotiations resulted in the first lock out in province and the district now needs to go through the healing process;

*   The jurisdiction is creating a Council of Councils which will operate with Board direction.  There is hope that the Council will prove to be an avenue to improve communications and deal with district and provincial issues;

*   School council handbook review raised issues/concerns; and

*   Shared facilities versus partnerships are of a concern and the Board would like Alberta Learning to define what a partnership is.

 

Shirley Reinhardt – Golden Hills

*   Held organizational meeting with Kathy Smith now the  Chairperson;

*   Student Health Initiative is doing well and the Board hopes to have Children Services and Mental Health working together to bring services into district;

*   Local Hospital staff are looking at day treatment for kids at risk;

*   Staff development day was held for all staff;

*   Recommendations from the Ministerial Forum on School Councils have been released and distributed to Councils. Councils have challenged that no money be raised for core curriculum;

*   By-Annual meetings are held between Trustees and School Councils; 

*   Enrolment has seen a 2.16% growth with an influx of ECS students

*   The Board welcomes two schools per meeting to come in for school sharing;

*   A portion of the one time funding will be used to bring down line of credit, with a net savings of $200,000;

*   A note was sent home with students informing parents that there is a pedophile in region;

*   Payment for the new central office will be paid by external leases (90%); and

*   Karen Harries is now the Zone 5 representative for ASEBP.

 

 

Pat Stutz - Canadian Rockies

*   PD day was an enormous success – special day with a global perspective;

*   The new transportation facility has been opened.  It is hoped that vandalism will be reduced;

*   The one-time funding will allow movement of funds in directions not able to before;

*   There is a possibility of implementation of a Catholic Board in Canmore.  Negotiations are ongoing

*   480 hour Kindergarten program which does its own fundraising, both corporate and individuals; and

*   The Board is pleased with ATA energy with regard to the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement.

 

Graham Sewell – Foothills

*   The 1999-00 organization meeting was held with Caroline remaining in the Chair;

*   Board is going through a Superintendent search;

*   Christopher  Paton –Gay has “sailed into the sunset.”  A by-election will be held in November; and

*   Written report attached.

 

 

Reports

Lorne Kosack – ASBA Zone Director

*   Replaces Christopher Paton-Gay;

*   ASBA reports they are pleased with the appointment; and

*   Written report attached.

 

Ron Taylor – Regional Office

*   There is some difference of opinion from two ministers (Alberta Learning and Alberta Infrastructure) as to how the $305 per student should be spent.  It must be used to draw down debt and can’t be used for a project which requires sustainable and ongoing funding;

*   Boards may need to show what consideration is given to capital projects but there is no plan to refuse proposals if there are no capital projects outstanding; and

*   Written report attached.

 

George Walker – ASBA Headquarters

*   Suzanne Polkosnik has been hired.  She’s a lawyer with labour relations background;

*   Another lawyer will be hired in early December to deal with legal issues affecting ASBA generally; and

*   ASBA offices will be relocated in mid Dec (109th and 99th Ave).

 

Karen Harries – CLL

*   The Summer Institute was successful with students participating feeling the smaller sessions useful;

*   There are already 46 registered for winter seminar;

*   Nov 30 – Exploring new Paradigms for Teaching and Learning (evening session);

 

John Murray – Labour Relations

*   Report distributed; and

*   ASBA session upcoming with a focus on the possibilities of coordinating bargaining.

 

Graham Sewell – Teacher Preparation

*   Graham has been re-appointed by the U of C to their Teacher Prep Board.

 

Kathy Smith – Regional Consortium (no meeting)

 

Maureen Munro - Edwin Parr

*   Maureen thanked Shirley for coordinating banquet – also Lynn Leslie and Graham Sewell;

*   The committee will be looking at recommendations included in the handbook; and

*   Shirley Reinhardt suggested that in those cases where selection is difficult, the committee might wish to ask a Superintendent from another jurisdiction for insight.

 

Mary Stengler - Treasurer

*   attached and included in minutes – 8,599.94 closing balance (Aug 31)

 

By-Laws – no report

 

Linda Wellman moved that the reports be received for information.  Carried.

 

Circulated dates for Board sharing – report attached

 

 

Elections                  

 

Zone Chair            John Neill nominated Pat Stutz.

                        John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

                        Pat Stutz declared Chair of ASBA Zone 5.

                       

Zone Vice-Chair     Shirley Reinhardt nominated John Neill

                  John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

                  John Neill declared Vice-Chair of ASBA Zone 5.

 

ASBA Zone 5 Director    Lorne Kosack was appointed.

 

ASBA Zone 5 Alternate  Shirley Reinhardt nominated Graham Sewell   

              Director                    John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

                                                Graham Sewell declared ASBA Zone 5 Alternate Director

 

Treasurer                   Canadian Rockies Secretary-Treasurer Dave MacKenzie will serve as Treasurer for the upcoming year.

 

Secretary                   Canadian Rockies Secretary Treasurer Dave MacKenzie and Prairie Land’s Arlene Dow will share secretarial duties for the next year.

 

            Labour Relations Rep          Karen Harries nominated John Murray.

                                                Cathy Smith moved nominations cease.

 

John Murray declared ASBA Zone 5 Labour Relations Representative.

 

            CLL Rep                    John Neill nominated Karen Harries.

                                                Shirley Reinhardt moved nominations cease.

 

                                                Karen Harries declared ASBA Zone 5 CLL Representative.

 

            CRC Rep                   Karen Harries nominated Cathy Smith.

                                                John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

                                                Cathy Smith declared ASBA Zone 5 CRC Representative.

 

            Teacher Preparation            Shirley Reinhardt nominated Graham Sewell.

                                                John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

Graham Sewell declared ASBA Zone 5 Teacher Preparation Representative.

 

Edwin Parr Committee         Shirley Reinhardt nominated Graham Sewell, Lynn Leslie and Maureen Munro.

                                                John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

Graham Sewell, Lynn Leslie and Maureen Munro declared ASBA Zone 5 Edwin Parr Committee.

 

 

            Edwin Parr Organizer           Cathy Smith nominated Shirley Reinhardt Edwin Parr Organizer.

                                                John Murray moved nominations cease.

 

                                                Shirley Reinhardt declared Edwin Parr Organizer.

 

Lunch

 

Guest Speaker                                Cathy Faber, Calgary Public

*   “Shaping the Vision”  - Virtual Schools, Virtual Schooling, Student Achievement

 

New Business                Linda Wellman moved that Zone 5 consider developing a web  page using the funds originally set aside for Zone professional development, to enhancing communication within and between the Zone and ASBA.

Carried

 

Fees – Golden Hills would like the fees to go to $900 – due to continued surplus without any initiative to spend the money;

Calgary Catholic recommends that the fees not be reduced – lowered fees may mean reduced services;

Rocky View – no hardship for Boards to come up with $1,000;

Foothills – stay at $1,000 or in a year we may have to increase beyond the $1000;

Prairie Land believes fees should stay at $1,000 – no hardship for the Board.

 

National Elections for Rights of Youth -  Rocky View are not willing to participate. Discussion followed.

 

 

 

Adjournment                       Maureen Munro moved that the meeting be adjourned at 2:33 PM. 

Carried.