A Community Connections grant of $30,000 has been awarded to School District 27. The grant was announced Jan. 17 by the Local Government Program Services.
The grant will be distributed to 28 schools for upgrades to school kitchens and community garden projects, states a January 27 district press release.
In the same release it was also announced that the Ministry of Education is increasing annual operating funds for Strong Start B.C. early learning programs from $30,000 per school year to $32,000, effective in 2011/2012.
Highlights
Jan. 25
School District 27 board meeting
• The board endorsed the Heavy Metal Rocks! project for grades 11 and 12 students wanting to learn how to operate heavy duty equipment. The program has partnered with many community businesses — more details will be forthcoming from the Career Development Program.
• The board passed a bylaw funding the installation of solar powered hot water tanks at Williams Lake Secondary and Horse Lake Elementary schools.
• The trustees will be reviewing rates to provide transportation assistance and boarding allowance to parents.
• The board confirmed that independent schools would continue to be charged $30 per student per month for busing services in the 2011-2012 school year.
• The amended annual budget bylaw received it’s first two readings, with the final reading to adopt the amended annual budget to take place at the February 22.
• Trustees requested information from staff regarding a number of issues including provision of late bus runs to accommodate secondary students who attend extra-curricular activities or tutoring programs in the Williams Lake and 100 Mile House areas.
• Information was requested regarding current costs of busing students who do not attend their catchment area schools and costs of busing students within walk limits.
• Information was requested regarding schools of choice and catchment areas.
• On the recommendation of the education committee the board approved board authority authorized courses: Yearbook 11, Yearbook 12, Environmental Studies 11, Vinyl Graphic Technology 11
• Superintendent Diane Wright spoke about preparing students for the future and showed a Learning Conversation video highlighting some of the conversations she has had with students in the district over the past few months about how they see their educations unfolding.
• Larry Johannesen, Kim Nowotny and Rana Grace, representing all of the district’s school counsellors, made a presentation on the various programs and support programs available in the district for individual learners and vulnerable students.
• Cariboo-Chilcotin Teachers’ Association, Joan Erb, read a statement regarding Foundation Skills Assessments that are currently taking place in schools.
