Monthly Archives: November 2011

Teacher Bargaining Update – Labour Board Decision

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/11/29/bc-teachers-strike-report-cards-ruling.html

B.C. teachers can keep drawing full salaries and don’t have to fill out report cards as part of their “controlled strike” during contract talks with the provincial government, a labour tribunal has ruled.

The B.C. Labour Relations Board (LRB) released the ruling late Tuesday in response to a B.C. Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA) application in October.

BCPSEA had asked the board to order the B.C. Teachers’ Federation to reimburse the association an amount equal to 15 per cent of the total gross salaries and benefits paid to the province’s 40,000 teachers.

 

Full text of decision from the Labour Relations board.

School Trustee Election – Official Results

Congratulations to all the successful candidates in yesterday’s election! And to those who were not successful in their quest… destiny has other great things planned for you! By merely stepping forward all of you provoked thought, dialogue and focus on what is important to our communities. Thank you for putting yourselves out there.

http://mail.sd57.bc.ca/~fmcleod/Election2011

 

Surname Given Name Votes
WARRINGTON Sharel 6,293
BELLA Trish 5,942
BOURASSA Sharon 5,379
BEKKERING Betty 5,145
HOOKER Brenda 4,902
BENNETT Tim 4,692
COOKE Kate 3,964
SABO Don 3,841
WHITE Rhonda 3,806
CRAWFORD Valentine 3,758
BURTON Andrew 3,551
ARNETT Elona 3,171
PETERS Shawn 3,044
KRUSHELNICKI Earl 2,175
GILL Bal 1,854
BENSON Kris 1,848

Note: the original final results showed Brenda Hooker with 4,802 votes. In error, on an advance poll from the city the school district inadvertently entered her number as “59″ rather than “159″.

Where and When to vote in Prince George School District?

Qualified electors can vote from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm at any of the following voting places:

City of Prince George:
Kelly Road Secondary School 4540 Handlen Road
Vanway Elementary School 4509 Highway 16 West
John McInnis Centre 3400 Westwood Drive
DP Todd Secondary School 4444 Hill Avenue
Malaspina Elementary School 7900 Malaspina Avenue
Ron Brent Elementary School 1401 17th Avenue
Edgewood Elementary School 4440 Craig Street
Blackburn Community Centre 2452 South Blackburn Road

District of Mackenzie
Mackenzie District Office – 1 Mackenzie Blvd

Village of McBride
McBride Village Office, 100 Robson Centre – 855 SW Frontage Road

Village of Valemount
Valemount Community Hall, 101 Gorse Street

Director – Electoral Area A
Ness Lake Community Hall [9770 Lakeside Drive]
Reid Lake Community Hall [23505 Isle Pierre - Reid Lake Road]
Nukko Lake Elementary School [23955 Chief Lake Road]
Salmon Valley Firehall [5155 Salmon Valley Road]
Pilot Mountain Firehall [9072 Syms Road]
Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Office [155 George St.]

Director – Electoral Area C
Miworth Community Hall [13510 Flint Road]
West Lake Community Hall [23495 West Lake Estates Road]
Beaverly Elementary School [9777 Western Crescent]
Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Office [155 George St.]

Director – Electoral Area D
Red Rock Firehall [4030 Red Rock Road East]
Buckhorn Elementary School [5190 Buckhorn Lake Road]
Pineview Elementary School [8515 Old Cariboo Highway]
Regional District of Fraser-Fort George Office [155 George St.]
Blackburn Community Centre [2451 S. Blackburn Road]

Director – Electoral Area H
Valemount Community Hall [101 Gorse Street]

Dunster Community Hall [7085 Read Road]
Tete Jaune Community Hall [14270 Blackman Road]
Dome Creek Community Hall [13741 Dome Creek Road]
McBride Village Office [100 Robson Centre-855 SW Frontage Road]
Regional District of Fraser-Fort George office [155 George St.]

Mardi Gras Snow Daze 2012 SNOWMAN BUILDING CONTEST

DPAC is passing along this information for those who may be interested.

Registration Form & Info – Snowman Contest 2012

This contest is open to everyone.
Get your team together or do it on your own!
START BUILDING WHENEVER THE SNOW IS RIGHT
Prizes awarded as follows:
1st Prize for Most Built $700
1st Prize for Tallest $500
1st Prize for Best Snow Sculpture $300
Gift Certificates for 2nd & 3rd place winners in each category

PLEASE SEE REGULATIONS ON REGISTRATION FORM
IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO MAY BE INTERESTED
PASS THIS INFORMATION ALONG
For more information contact Tony or Marian at
Mardi Gras Snow Daze 250-564-3737
or check out our website at snowdaze.ca
Let it snow let it snow let it snow

Additional School Trustee Candidate Questions and Answers

This questions and answers have been posted to the DPAC website as being interesting and informative for parents. Responses were not received from all trustee candidates, which could mean nothing more than an email not having been received.

Dear School District Trustee Candidates,

I am an involved and interested parent with a child in Grade 2 and a child who will enter kindergarten in September 2012. I was unable to attend the candidate forums last week as I had to leave town unexpectedly.  I am doing my best to catch up via the DPAC website and via consultations with colleagues and friends.

I have a few questions to put to you and would very much appreciate your input so that I, and other voting members of the public, will be able to make an informed decision on voting day.  I will make your answers available to the DPAC and to others who are interested.

Sincere thanks to all of you for putting yourselves forward as candidates and for taking the time to answer the many questions you have received.

 

Jacqueline Dockray

Read More

Minutes, November 7, 2011

DPAC 2011 November Meeting Minutes

DPAC MINUTES FOR November 7, 2011

7:00 p.m. Van Bien Training and Development Centre

 

Attendees:

DPAC Executive:               Sarah Holland, Steve Shannon and Gillian Burnett

Partner Groups:               Brian Pepper, Superintendent; Matt Pearce, PGDTA; Faith Mackay, PGPVPA

School Reps:                      Aboriginal Choice School, Ecole Lac des Bois Elementary, Hart Highlands, Heather Park, Kelly Road, Nukko Lake, Peden Hill, Quinson, Spruceland, Beaverly, Edgewood

Read More

Teacher Bargaining Update

The linked documents provide information about the current state of teacher negotiations, specifically regarding information about report cards and the request from BC Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA) that the BC Teacher’s Federation (BCTF) reimburse school districts 15% of teachers’ total gross salaries and benefits costs.

BCPSEA application to labour relations board:

http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/documents/Publications%20-%20Essential%20Services/No%202011-09%20Attachment-LRB%20Application%20October%2026%202011.pdf

BCPSEA FAQ:

http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/documents/20111028_031921611_No%202011-10-Essential%20Services%20Update%20FAQ%20LRB%20Appliication.pdf

Note – questions asked and answered in this FAQ include:

  • The “cutting pay” contention: Is BCPSEA proposing to dock teachers’ pay?
  • The “I’m still doing my job” contention: Why is BCPSEA asking that boards be
    reimbursed for work that teachers are not performing?
  • The escalation contention: Isn’t the BCPSEA LRB application “…unnecessarily
    throwing fuel onto an already heated situation”?
  • A “flip-flop” or “a deal is a deal” contention: Why is BCPSEA asking the LRB to
    vary the Essential Services Order to require teachers to prepare and distribute
    report cards?
  • The public sector is covered by a compensation mandate. There have been
    compensation mandates in the public sector since the 1990s. How many unions
    and employers have settled under the current mandate to date?

 BCTF Response to BCPEA application to labour relations board:

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/BCTF%20fires%20back%20issue%20report%20cards%20during%20action/5722697/story.html?mid=52

 

BCTF background page on bargaining:

http://bctf.ca/BargainingAndContracts.aspx?id=23159

BCPSEA background page on bargaining:

http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/bc-teachers/teacher-collective-bargaining.aspx

Labour Relations board decision on Field trips:

http://www.bcpsea.bc.ca/documents/Publications%20-%20Essential%20Services/No%202011-11-Attachment%20LRB%20Decision%20B193-2011%20Field%20Trips.pdf

 

Fascinating document on History of teacher bargaining in BC – “Towards a Better Teacher Bargaining Model in British Columbia”, from 2003:

http://www.labour.gov.bc.ca/pubs/teacher/teachers-final-report.pdf

BC Education Plan – parent feedback wanted!

Apparently, over 50% of the feedback received so far has come from the Victoria area. Let’s get parent input, and Northern input to the Ministry of Education:

http://www.bcedplan.ca/

Questions and Answers from All Candidate Forum

School Trustee Election – Information on Candidates

Trustee candidates are listed in alphabetical order by first name.

Andrew Burton

http://andrewjburton.com/

http://www.facebook.com/groups/273523339348724/

Andrew Burton Answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Bal Gill

Message received prior to all candidate forum: “Due to a death in my family I regret to announce that I have not been able to carry out my campaign duties.”

Betty Bekkering

http://www.facebook.com/betty.bekkering

Betty Bekkering Answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Brenda Hooker

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Elect-Brenda-Hooker-for-School-District-57-Trustee/164288930327576

CHMM SD 57 Brenda Hooker interview Nov 1st 2011

Brenda Hooker – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Don Sabo

http://www.facebook.com/DonSaboforTrustee

Don Sabo Answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

CHMM Don Sabo Nov 14th Interview

Earl Krushelnicki

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000398754803

Earl Krushelnicki – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Elona Arnett

arnett.elona@gmail.com

Elona Arnett – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Kate Cooke

http://www.trusteecooke.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=669254030

CHMM Radio Interview Kate Cooke Interview Nov 10th 2011

Kate Cooke – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Kris Benson

Message received: “I have requested to withdraw my candidacy for Trustee as I will be leaving Prince George before the end of the year to pursue an opportunity in Edmonton.”

Rhonda White

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-Elect-Rhonda-White-for-School-Board-SD57/126633700774720

Rhonda White – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Sharel Warrington

http://www.facebook.com/people/Sharel-Warrington/100002913429539

Sharel Warrington – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Sharon Bourassa

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001422558396

CHMM Sharon Bourassa Nov 3 2011

Sharon Bourassa – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Shawn Peters

http://shawnpeterspg.com/

CHMM Radio (Mackenzie) interview

Shawn Peters – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Tim Bennett

http://timbennett-pg.com/

http://www.facebook.com/electtim

Tim Bennett – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Trish Bella

http://trishbella.com/

http://www.facebook.com/tbella1

Trish Bella – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Valentine Crawford

http://valentinecrawford.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Re-Elect-Valentine-Crawford-for-School-Board/300282193318451

CHMM Valentine Crawford Interview Nov 8 2011

Valentine Crawford – answers to DPAC and PGDTA questions

Newspaper articles:

Prince George Citizen

Prince George Free Press

Online discussion:

http://www.facebook.com/CoresForRuralSchools

 

Voting locations and dates:

http://www.sd57.bc.ca/fileadmin/cao.sd57.bc.ca/Home/Elections2011/Declaration_of_Election_By_Voting.pdf