Lucerne Connectivity decision
After much discussion and debate, a decision has finally been reached regarding Internet connection at Lucerne Elementary Secondary School. Trustees have voted for a dual system. This system will have a wired connection through the whole school, with a wireless option in the high school portion. There are still issues within the decision to discuss, such as how to ensure Internet at the school is used responsibly, as well as the possibility of putting the system on a timed system, which could turn off the connection during certain periods of the day.
Funding for School District 10
The Minister of Education has approved $339,400 in funding for the replacement of the boiler and heating system at Lucerne School. The system is 24 years old, and has been an area of concern for many years, but because the cost exceeded Annual Facility Grant funding, it wasn’t possible to replace it before now. In addition, another $245,400 was approved for the purpose of installing LED lighting upgrades at Nakusp Elementary School, Nakusp Secondary School, the school board office, and maintenance shops. The funding will help replace the district’s lighting system with more efficient fixtures and bulbs, which will help reduce energy costs for the district. Both this and the heating upgrade grant for Lucerne will help to provide much needed infrastructure for the district. Also, SD 10 will be receiving two new buses. There have been major issues this year with bus breakdowns, and rising with cost of repairs, this is welcomed news.
Growing Innovation Grant received
School District 10 has received funding from the Growing Innovation in Rural sites of Learning through the Rural Education Advisory Council. The amount, $2,000, will go toward a new project called Design Thinking: “Making” a Difference in the World. This is a hands on project which involves 13 artists, artisans, makers and tradespeople in our communities who will work in classroom residencies of two days to two weeks with teachers and students across the district. Almost three quarters of the artists, artisans, and makers have graduated from schools in SD 10.
Fauquier School Update
The school board will be holding a community meeting concerning the purchase of the property on Dec. 1. The board has also been in contact with BC Hydro and has been informed that BC Hydro is not able to provide hookups to any prospective lots in Fauquier. As a result, a Registered On site Waste Professional (ROWP) will be engaged to assess potential plot layout, based on septic regulations.
Board office closures in December
The school board office will be closed from Dec. 21 to Dec. 31, and will reopen on Jan. 4, corresponding with winter break.
Next meeting dates
Because December is a shorter month for the school board, both the Education Partnership Committee (EPC) meeting and regular board meeting will take place on December 8. The EPC meeting will take place at 6 p.m., and the regular board meeting will follow at 7 p.m.
