February 9, 2022 Board Highlights

Inside 23

1. American Sign Language (ASL) Program
   Participating by Zoom:
   Staff: Randy Horne, Director of Instruction – Inclusive Education
   Brandi Makus, District Consultant
   Chelsea Thompson, Teacher, Rutland Senior Secondary School
   Kathy Jonker, Teacher, École Kelowna Secondary School
   Scott Anderson, Teacher, Mount Boucherie Secondary School
   Kayla Malito, CEA/ASL Instructor, Mount Boucherie Secondary School
   Interpreter:
   Jessica Carol
   Students:
   Grace Mallette, Rutland Senior Secondary School
   Malaya Galigan, Graduate from Central Okanagan Public Schools
   The American Sign Language (ASL) Program offers secondary level courses at Mount Boucherie
   Secondary, Rutland Senior Secondary and École Kelowna Secondary Schools. ASL is accepted
   as a second language requirement for University. Central Okanagan Public Schools is one of the
   only school districts in the province to offer in person instruction. The program is supported by a
   member of the deaf community. The ASL program began in 2000 with one class. It has since
   grown. This school year, there have been 16 classes offered between the three high schools.

Staff Presentation

1. 15th Annual Harmony Day
   Presenters:
   Leigh-Ann Yanow, Chair, Harmony Day Committee
   Tim Mayer, Teacher at École Kelowna Secondary School
   Neela Radar, Grade 12 Student at École Kelowna Secondary School
   Wednesday, February 16, 2022 marks the 15th Annual Harmony Day in Central Okanagan Public Schools.
   Leigh-Ann Yanow, Chair of the Harmony Day Committee, announced that this year’s Harmony Day theme is “HOPE”. “H” – Harmony, “O” – Optimism, “P” – Perseverance, and “E” – Empathy. Many events will be
   happening in schools on February 16th, including the Harmony Day Living Library Virtual Conference
   featuring speakers from the community and beyond who will share their stories of HOPE. The chosen artwork for the Harmony Day logo was completed by Neela Radar, a student at École Kelowna Secondary School.

Declarations:

1. Harmony Day – February 16, 2022
   Proclamation:
   WHEREAS Harmony Day recognizes that the citizens of the Central Okanagan bring unique gifts to this
   community through their diversity; and,
   WHEREAS Harmony Day provides an annual opportunity for the Central Okanagan Public Schools
   community to celebrate diversity while committing to mutual respect; and,
   WHEREAS Harmony Day creates sensitivity to and respect for differences; and,
   WHEREAS Harmony Day allows the Central Okanagan Public Schools to focus on the mission of educating
   students in a safe, inspirational learning environment; and
   THEREFORE, I, Chantelle Desrosiers, as Vice-Chair of the Board of Education of the Central Okanagan
   Public Schools, do hereby proclaim February 16, 2022, as Harmony Day in Central Okanagan Public
   Schools.
2. Bullying Awareness (Pink Shirt) Day – February 23, 2022
   The Central Okanagan Board of Education declared Wednesday, February 23, 2022 as “Pink Shirt Day” in
   Central Okanagan Public Schools.
   Central Okanagan Public Schools is a sponsor of the Pink Shirt Day Breakfast taking place the morning of
   February 23, 2022.
   Presentation:
3. Keeping Families Together in the Lower Mission Catchment
   Presenters:
   Ashleigh Christensen, Parent, École Dorothea Walker Elementary School
   Haley Gershony, Parent, École Dorothea Walker Elementary School
   LeeAnna Cordes, Parent, École Dorothea Walker Elementary School
   The above parents of students at École Dorothea Walker Elementary School presented in response to the
   Board of Education decision on January 26, 2022 that effective the 2022/23 school year, the Kindergarten
   and Grade 1 English and French Immersion programs at École Dorothea Walker Elementary School are
   moved to Bellevue Creek Elementary School, and effective the 2023/2024 school year, the Grade 2 English
   and French Immersion programs at École Dorothea Walker Elementary School are discontinued and are
   established at Bellevue Creek Elementary School.
   The solution proposed by the parents presenting is:

• Temporary single track English K-5 at École Bellevue Creek Elementary School
• Temporary single track French Immersion K-6 at École Dorothea Walker Elementary School
• Shared PAC and resources, with a sister school relationship in order to mitigate many of the initial
  concerns with single track schools, and the common goal of a reunited École Dorothea Walker
  Elementary School
  The presentation outlined the key concerns, including keeping siblings together, safety and traffic, equity,
  peer orientation and unhealthy child development, logistics, parent mental health and children’s mental
  health.
  The Board of Education referred the safety and traffic concerns brought forward to the Transportation
  Department and the District Traffic Safety Officer, with a report coming back to the Board of Education.

Action Items:

1. 2021/2022 Amended Annual Budget Bylaw
   The Board of Education gave first, second, third readings, and adopted the School District No. 23 (Central
   Okanagan) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for the Fiscal Year 2021/2022 in the amount of $302,076,449.
2. Affirmation of Policy 160 – Finance and Audit Committee
   The Board of Education affirmed Policy 160 – Finance and Audit Committee.
   Information Items:
   The Board of Education reviewed the following:
3. Level 4 and 5 Field Study Summary – 2021/2022
4. General Statement – January 26, 2022
5. Financial Update – December 31, 2021
6. 2022/2023 Budget Survey Questions
7. Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 3523 Executive: January 27, 2022 – January 2023
8. Central Okanagan Public Schools Provincial Online Learning School Feasibility Report
9. The Office of the Ombudsperson Quarterly Reports: October 1 – December 31, 2021
   Items of Special Mention
   Trustees and the Superintendent of Schools/CEO spoke of the following:

• A reminder that the community and staff are invited to review the proposed School Calendars for the
  2022/2023 and 2023/2024 school years and to provide input prior to February 18th. The proposed calendars
  and survey are located on the Central Okanagan School District website.
• On Friday, February 18th, CUPE and COTA will be hosting their professional development days and
  therefore school will not be in session.
• Also, a reminder that Monday, February 21st is Family Day and schools again will not be in session.