Several hot button issues came to the forefront at the School District 27’s regular meeting Tuesday evening.
The trustees surprised some of the audience members with the announcement of a proposal to move the French Immersion program from Marie Sharpe elementary to Glendale elementary starting next August.
They also announced a proposal to move the GROW and Skyline alternate programs from their current rental accommodation on Second Avenue to Marie Sharpe elementary.
Superintendent Diane Wright said the intention was to put the alternate programs in the annex on the Marie Sharpe grounds.
The move would save the school district $70,000 a year in rent.
Chair Wayne Rodier noted a public consultation process will take place before any final decisions are made on these two proposals.
Cariboo Chilcotin Teacher’s Association representative Joan Erb said following the meeting that the announcements came as complete surprises and that putting teens and adult students on the same grounds as elementary students seemed an odd choice.
“I was surprised. I didn’t see it coming at all,” Erb said.
Merit pay for
teachers
In other discussions the board took a stand against the concept of merit pay for teachers. The debate was ignited recently by Liberal leadership candidate Kevin Falcon, who said he would introduce merit pay for teachers if he becomes the province’s next premier.
Trustee Patti Baker, who made the resolution opposing such policies, said the concept of merit pay is insulting and demeaning to all teachers. “We have a highly qualified staff in this district,” Baker said.
Trustee Richard Elliott said merit pay had been tried in the Chicago school district and had failed miserably.
Trustee Bruce Mack said the province might want to start with merit pay for MLAs.
Chair Wayne Rodier said the issue is getting far more attention than it deserves.
Erb said she was pleased with the trustees’ response to the idea of merit pay.
“I was very pleased with their commitment to teachers and the jobs they already do,” Erb said following the meeting.
Ten-year plan
In other discussions at the end of the meeting district parent advisory council president Brian Hamm and a parent in the audience asked when they could expect to see the 10-year plan the trustees are working on.
The plan was on the December meeting agenda but that meeting was cancelled due to lack of a quorum.
The 10-year plan was a note on this agenda, but Rodier explained that the idea of a 10-year plan had become a long and very complex process which would take more time to develop.
There is an undercurrent of fear among teachers and parents that the proposed closure of some elementary schools and closure or restructuring of the two secondary schools in Williams Lake — which were dropped after extensive public consultation last year — will be back on the table in the 10-year plan.
But Erb says the uncertainty about what schools might be closed and possible reconfiguration of the secondary schools is part of the reason Williams Lake secondary is struggling to maintain enrolment.
“We can’t even get a plan for a year. How are we going to get a plan for 10 years?” Erb asked.
FSA testing
There was also considerable discussion about the pros and cons of parental rights when it comes to opting their children out of taking the Ministry of Education Fundamental Skills Assessment tests given each year to Grade 4 and Grade 7 students.
Several trustees said they didn’t agree with the FSA tests, but after considerable discussion the board decided not to send a letter to parents outlining the Ministry of Education regulations regarding terms and conditions under which children may not take the tests.
Assistant Superintendent Harj Manhas explained that the ministry requires students to take the FSA tests and the only reasons for not taking them are family emergency, lengthy illness, or extenuating circumstances, which must be approved by the school principal.
