LYONEL DOHERTY
Members of the School District 53 board of trustee taking their oath of office recently are, from left, Debbie Marten from Keremeos, Robert Zandee from Oliver, Sam Hancheroff from Okanagan Falls and Osoyoos trustee/board chair Marieze Tarr.
While students are busy learning mathematics and other subjects, School District 53 has its own homework assignment due in the new year.
Resolving budget constraints and attracting more students to the district are challenging priorities that the board must tackle.
Chair Marieze Tarr stressed the importance of establishing partnerships with all communities to make them more “family friendly.”
“One of our aims for the new year should definitely be to get out of funding protection again,” she noted, referring to the decrease in student enrolment.
There has been a decline of 69 students in the district compared to September 2013.
This will put the board back into funding protection and put the district in a vulnerable financial position.
The October 31 financial report showed an operating deficit of $361,611 for the 2014/2015 school year.
Ministry of Education funding is based on student numbers, and if numbers are low, funding protection kicks in.
“To combat student decline we need job opportunities for parents; hopefully the new correctional facility will ensure some student growth,” Tarr said.
Another challenge facing the board is addressing the high level of anxiety among students, which parents need to be aware of, she pointed out.
Currently, schools have various programs (Mind Up, Friends and Roots of Empathy) to teach students how to cope with their anxiety.
Tarr said they have a committee that consists of teachers, administrators and senior staff to look at ways to deal with this ever-increasing problem.
“We are working hard to build strong connections with mental health and Interior Health to look at new and innovative ways to deal with anxiety,” Tarr said.
The latest research shows that the most effective way to combat bullying is to build on kindness, she noted.
Tarr said if she was given $10 million she would spend the majority on the primary years.
“If we can identify and address problems early then we will have students who are ready, engaged and eager to learn all the way through high school.”
She pointed out that the money the district will save on behaviour and learning support due to early intervention could then be used to offer high school students more options, such as trades courses.
Tarr’s advice to students is always the same – find a way to enjoy learning and try to focus on the big picture.
“You are not always going to enjoy every course you take, neither will you enjoy every teacher, but we can learn something from everyone we encounter.”
She acknowledged that students (and adults) might have to take a course that they don’t enjoy in order to help them graduate.
“But picture yourself as that scientist, journalist, tradesperson or whatever your dream is and work towards that as you struggle through the course that makes no sense to you.”
Tarr advises students to do their best every day and work hard.
“Participate in as many activities, school sports and clubs during your school years because this will make you a well rounded person, ready to cope with the many challenges that you will face in your future.”
The trustee admitted she would love to be a student again because of all the wonderful opportunities there are.
“I love learning new things and now it is so easy to learn with all the technology available to students.”
Tarr said she would like to see the district build strong relationships with all of its partners, and seeing more students (and parents) engaged in the education system is one of the board’s many goals this year.
Superintendent of Schools Bev Young said 2015 will see the board focusing on building a new team and identifying goals and objectives for the school year.
She also sees a restructuring regarding curriculum and instruction in light of the retirement of assistant superintendent Jim Insley.
Young said monitoring the Team Inquiry Model is another goal.
The superintendent outlined the following challenges that the board will face: predicting enrolment changes and the factors that will impact enrolment; adapting to possible changes to the funding framework; filling some support staff positions (it has been difficult to get bus drivers, educational assistants and some relief positions filled); and predicting the impact of the Okanagan Correctional Centre on enrolment and staffing needs.
Young said she is excited to work on a number of projects, such as brainstorming with teachers and administrators on the vision for restructuring and creating a broader leadership team.
She noted the district will surely feel the impact of Insley’s retirement.
Young is also looking forward to supporting the learning of students by building a capacity of staff, particularly in light of the anticipated labour peace in the next few years.
She is also eager to understand the changes to curriculum, assessment and reporting under the BC Education Plan, and working with educators to implement these changes.
In addition to improving the success of students, engaging parents is also a priority in Young’s mind. The superintendent also expressed similar concerns about students’ level of anxiety today. But she said the key is building partnerships with other agencies and working with families on research-based coping strategies.
LYONEL DOHERTY
Special to the Times
