New School District 71 superintendent Tom Demeo is excited about the coming school year.
Demeo, who has served as assistant superintendent as well as superintendent on an interim basis, now moves into the position on a permanent basis. He had worked within the Comox Valley a couple of different times, returning in 2012, with a stretch in Campbell River in between.
One major initiative this coming year, he says, will be a look at the catchment and boundary issues within the Comox Valley, with much of the work happening in the first half of the school year. He encourages parents to take part in this process, as he knows families feel a lot of attachment to their schools.
“We have to do a complete analysis of our numbers,” he says.
The district is also growing, which can present different challenges compared with declining enrolment. It means working to match up students with schools and programs. Early enrolment shows an increase, marking the third year in a row, though the official enrolment used for the district’s operating grant is based on student numbers as they stand at the end of September.
At the same time, the district continues to look to the future. Examples of newer areas into which it has ventured in recent years are increased online learning opportunities and its international program with about 180 full-time equivalent students.
“Our home-stay families are so willing to open the door,” he says.
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Underlying everything is the new strategic plan, which was adopted by the board of education in June. Last spring, the plan was put together through a consultation process with partners such as teachers, educational assistants, parents and the wider community.
“We had face-to-face consultations, and we also did online surveys and feedback forms,” Demeo says. “We’re all working together for the same reason. I think sometimes we need to bring the focus back on the kid. We have different slants, we may have different opinions, but really we’re all here for the child.”
This included everything from revisiting the district’s mission to determining future direction. The result is a plan that acts as a road map for the schools in the district for the next five years.
“Obviously, excellence in education is the key,” he says. ‘That’s why we’re here.”
The plan includes a value statement that covers concepts such as trust, truth, reconciliation, global awareness, accountability, innovation, creative thinking and a celebration of learning, among other things. As an example, he points to deepening students’ understanding of Indigenous knowledge by integrating it in the classroom, promoting environmental awareness and action or learning from the land through place-based learning or learning from local communities.
“These form the foundation of who we are, this is what we believe in,” Demeo says. “It takes a whole community to help us educate a child.”
The plan is broken down into four main areas, each with its own goals and actions noted: educational excellence; community engagement; organizational stability and environmental stewardship; and physical health and mental well-being. School district efforts, whether it’s educational practices in the classroom or budgeting at the board level, over the next five years are to be guided by these ideas.
“We’re quite proud of the document and the work that went into it,” he says.
For example, with the last area, Demeo points to the recent announcement from the Province that will support efforts in the Comox Valley to promote mental health and well-being for students.
“We’re investing in the holistic well-being of the individuals,” he says. “There is no model. We’re creating this.”
mike.chouinard@comoxvalleyrecord.comLike us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
