Dpac minutes - School District 67

DPAC
Meeting Minutes
January 23rd, 2012
Attendance:
Co-Chair: Derek Hurst
Co-Chair: Julie Planiden
Secretary: April Smith
Treasurer: Dawn Ford
District Superintendent: Wendy Hyer (absent)
Assistant District Superintendent: Dave Burgoyne
School Trustee: Linda Beaven
Lynn Gibb, Diana Kelly
Laura Willson
Meeting brought to order at 6:40 pm.
Introductions
Approval of Agenda:
One adjustment new Business #1 to happen before the reports. Julie motioned to approve
agenda, seconded by Dawn, approved by all.
Adoption of Minutes:
Lynn motioned to adopt the minutes, seconded by Julie.
New Business:
1. New regulation from the province, has given the district lead way in how many days of
instruction. The new regulations require a new minimum number of instruction hours per
year. The required hours of instruction are as follows: 853 hours for kindergarten,
878hours for grades 1 – 7, and 952 hours for grades 8 – 12. How it is allocated must be in
accordance with the respective unions and all collective agreement requirements must be
met. The process of consultation has started with teachers union, CUPE and DPAC.
The calendar will look virtually the same as this year, there are no major changes.
Going forward, the possibility of the 5 professional development days the teachers attend
before school starts may be spread out throughout the year.
The subject of year round school came up but it is not feasible for this region as we live
in a seasonal community.
REPORTS:

Trustee’s Report:
School Inquiry: Engaging Students through Authentic Tasks
Principal Jason Corday, Vice Principal Andrea DeVito, and Teacher Holly Colquhoun
presented a number of video clips which portrayed Summerland Middle School’s inquiry
journey with specific focus on the use of technology and authentic tasks to engage
students in learning. Engaging students through authentic tasks such as use of the
SMART Board, building webpages and personal e-portfolios, and learning outside the
classroom (field trips, senior buddies program) helped students to enjoy learning through
a different means
Cooperative Gains Mandate over 50 of 60 boards have written the Minister to inform him
that they will be unable to find the 1.5 increase to wages of CUPE staff from current
budget.
Education Committee
Through a Different Lens Project
The Board received a presentation on the “Through a Different Lens Project” by
District Helping Teacher Judith King, Ms. King provided the background
behind this project The data provided the base from which the project was launched to
work with students who were identified in the data as being at-risk of graduation. A
grant from the Vancouver Foundation
Ms. Schneider
discussed how this work has led to improved relationships and engagement with all
of students, the high achievers, the middle students, but mostly the impact on the
students who have not always been successful at school – these students have
been engaged in their learning as never before.
School Calendar Regulation
The new School Calendar Regulation was reviewed by Assistant Superintendent
Burgoyne. The previous calendar regulation specified the number of days in
session, the start and end dates of the year, and holiday periods as well as the
minimum number of minutes of instruction per week. The new calendar regulation
only specifies the minimum number of hours per year of “instruction.” However,
any proposed calendar a board wishes to implement must not only go through a
consultation process with unions and parents but it must comply with any provisions of
local collective agreements unless the union agrees to the change.
At this time, it is anticipated that the 2013-14 school year will fall along the traditional
start and end dates and well as holiday periods as in past years. This is due to the fact
that various activities
have already been planned for the next school year and these activities need to be set well
in advance. Current consultations are laying the ground work to decide if
there is any interest from parents, teachers or support staff for an alternate school
calendar in future years.

Buildings, Grounds, Safety and Transportation Committee
It was noted that the cost of damage has decreased in 2012 compared to
$47,000 in 2011, $64,296 in 2010, and $75,352 in 2009.
Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in Schools
Mr. Gorcak advised that one of our schools has been contacted regarding the
possibility of receiving a donation of an Automated External Defibrillator device.
Mr. Gorcak reviewed a Schools Protection Plan (SPP) bulletin regarding AED use
i, which listed a number of concerns expressed by SPP related to cost
of training, certification/re-certification, maintenance repair and replacement, and
Animals on School Grounds
Secretary-Treasurer Shongrunden advised a letter has been received from a
parent requesting consideration of a school district-wide policy regarding animals
on and within school property. Following consideration of the request, the
committee agreed a district-wide policy would not be necessary and that the
decision of animals at a school should be a school-based decision which,
depending on the clientele which may change year by year.
Community Connections
Grants were approved for four of SD67’s applications for projects
• Kitchen renovation at Giant’s Head Elementary School in the amount of $8,000;
• Community kitchen upgrades at Naramata Elementary School in the amount of
$1,500;
• Installation of sanitizing dishwasher at West Bench Elementary in the amount of
$5,000;
• Purchase of refrigerators for community breakfast and lunch programs at five
schools in Penticton, in the amount of $3,000.
Research Proposal
Superintendent Hyer advised that Dr. Lorraine Baron, Research Associate Innovative
Learning Centre, Faculty of Education at UBC Okanagan, is seeking permission to invite
teachers and students in SD67 to participate in a study to investigate how teachers and
students use Thinkable, a free-web-based interactive and flexible platform where highquality
learning merges with optimal use of technology. Information outlining the
project was provided with the agenda package.
International Program
Superintendent Hyer provided an update on the international program. Eleven students
from Korea are presently in the Summerland schools and another 16 Korean students are
in Penticton schools. The students are attending school and enjoying their visits to the
Okanagan. Ms. Hyer added she had been in contact with Okanagan College and
Okanagan University College regarding a joint project for transition of international
students from secondary to post-secondary education. There are currently 27 short-term
students from Korea and as of February the program will have 21 long-term students nine

from Japan and six from Germany).
Superintendent’s Report:
International students are here in Penticton and Summerland. No issues so far, many
positive comments, and feedback . The next group is from Russia in June and July.
BC Adolescent health survey going on to analyze current issues, conducted by the
McCreary Center it is the 5 th time we have done it.
Science fair March 4th and 5th in Summerland, 90 projects from gr 6 -12.
Okanagan concert band festival coming up March 7th and 8th. The district has a new
concert band consisting of students from Pen High and Princess Margaret in grades 10,
11 and 12.
The board will make it’s decision on whether or not early French Immersion will be
going ahead by the end of May. If it goes ahead it will be a 2014 start at the earliest.
Chair Report:
Treasurer’s Report:
Cheques went out for a total of $1050 for BCCPAC memberships some schools are being
reimbursed for submitting it already.
Out accounts are as follows:
Gaming Account: $5219.22
Operating Account: $5160.04 as of Dec. 24th
New Business:
2. A request came in from Pen. High/ Maggie schools for $1000 for new music and
incidentals for the District Concert Band. After taking everything into consideration the
request was granted with the following motion:
Motion to provide up to $1000 for musical scores for the district band with valid receipts
submitted, providing the music stays in the district and is available to all students for
future use. Motioned by Julie seconded by Lynn.
School Business:
***Summerland secondary school performing Hairspray
Feb 13, 14, 15, 16, 20 21, 22, 23. Come on out for a spectacular performance.

Next scheduled meeting is February 27th, at Pen. High School at 6:30pm.
Motion to adjourn, approved by all.
Meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm.