School District 83 is working towards achieving some of the 41 recommendations it was presented with in June from a special advisor’s report.
“The first of those recommendations put me in this chair. The remaining 41 recommendations, I can tell you this is a work in progress,” said district trustee Mike McKay.
However, some of the recommendations are in the jurisdiction of the provincial government.
“Some of them are out of our direct ability to control, but we will certainly recognize the spirit of what is intended,” he said.
There is policy being reviewed and updated, some of the financial policy is being reviewed for refreshing. We will figure out some methodology to put it in a package.”
McKay gave the example of #14 on the list, which requires trustees, both newly elected and re-elected, to have mandatory orientation training which encompasses: good governance, financial literacy and an overview of the educational sector and district.
“It’s a heck of a good suggestion,” he said.
As a part of increasing transparency, the district is holding community consultations.
“There are job descriptions being updated,” he said.
McKay noted transparency is something the school district is striving to achieve with the community consultation sessions.
The consultation meetings are not about school closures, he said, adding they are a way to gather feedback from the public, as well as to provide information.
The first meeting is Oct. 29 at Parkview Elementary, in Sicamous from 9 a.m. to noon and at Armstrong’s Pleasant Valley Secondary from 1 to 4 p.m.
On Nov. 26, there will be sessions at Salmon Arm’s Shuswap Middle School from 9 a.m. to noon and at Enderby’s A.L. Fortune Secondary from 1 to 4 p.m.
McKay addressed a nearly-full gallery during Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
See the Observer’s previous story for more details on the advisor’s report.
