March 9, 2022 Board Highlights

Central Okanagan Public Schools – “Inside 23”:

1. Equity Club
   In attendance from École Glenrosa Middle School:
   Staff: Jesse Bruce, Principal
   Stephanie Read, Vice-Principal
   Serina Penner, Teacher
   Anyssa Allen, Teacher
   Student: Gen Gendron, Grade 9 Student
   The École Glenrosa Middle School (GMS) team presented a video that shared insights into the Equity
   journey at GMS. Staff and students provided a window into the school’s Student Equity Club and how it
   inspired the creation of the Staff Equity Club. The Equity Club’s central messages are diversity, inclusion,
   belonging, community outreach, and living and leading a culture of equity.
   The video can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eumAYnLekZk
   Action Items:
2. 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 School Calendars
   The Board of Education adopted a Local School Calendar for the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 school years.
   The Superintendent of Schools/CEO will direct school Principals, in consultation with staff and parents, to
   establish a site-based calendar for the 2022-2023 school year. In establishing site-based calendars,
   Principals must:

• Conform to the School Act and Regulations, applicable Collective Agreements, and School District
  No. 23 (Central Okanagan) Board Policy.
• Schedule school parent/teacher conference times.
• Schedule their school’s calendar and bell schedule.
  The 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 School Calendars will be posted on the School District website under District Info – Calendar.

1. Review of Transportation Fees for 2022/2023 Fiscal Year
   The Board of Education approved the transportation fee of $350/year for each bus rider for the period
   effective July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.
2. Funding and Advocacy Plan for Universal Washrooms
   The Board of Education agreed to advocate to the Ministry of Education for special purpose funding for the creation of universal washrooms in existing schools, and to work with partner groups to support an advocacy plan for funding of universal washrooms.
   The Board Meeting Highlights are published after each Public Board Meeting.
   Please check the School District website (www.sd23.bc.ca) for all Board and Committee Meeting dates and times.
   Information Items:
   The Board of Education reviewed the following:
3. Level 4 and 5 Field Study Summary – 2021/2022
4. General Statement – February 23, 2022
5. 2022-2023 School Fees Summary
   Items of Special Mention
   The Board Chair, Trustees and the Deputy Superintendent of Schools spoke of the following:

• Ryan Stierman, Secretary-Treasurer/CFO, was recognized for his leadership in Central Okanagan Public
  Schools and gifted with a money clip carved with an Eagle by local Cree Artist, Justin Rivard. The Eagle
  represents wisdom and strength which Ryan has demonstrated through his work with the District since August

1. Ryan has decided to move on to other opportunities and his last day with the District will be April 1st.

• On Friday, March 4th, the Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the First Nations Education Steering
  Committee (FNESC), announced an Indigenous-focused graduation requirement for all students. This is an important policy decision in the education sector on Truth and Reconciliation that is inclusive of all students and reflects the importance of learning Indigenous knowledges, teachings, and history for our students to become educated citizens. Meetings with K–12 partners will be scheduled in March and April, to gather feedback on a proposed model for the requirement, and a public engagement process will launch on March 7th. Implementation of the new requirement is expected to involve a phased-in approach that would come into full effect in the 2023/24 school year.
• On Friday, March 4th, representatives from the Nisga’a First Nations educational team visited schools to learn more about the District’s Indigenous Education Programs. After a full day of meeting with the Indigenous Education staff, school teams, secondary Indigenous students, and the Land-based Learning team, the Nisga’a team gifted the Central Okanagan School District with a beautiful print, created by a local Nisga’a artist, which represents the love of teaching.
• Trustees spoke of their attendance at the BCSTA Branch Meeting, the Mama Mia performance at Okanagan Mission Secondary School, a guided tour of the Greenhouse Project at KLO Middle School, and the School Community Student Learning Conversation at Helen Gorman Elementary School.