DPAC MINUTES FOR September 12, 2011
7:00 p.m. Van Bien Training and Development Centre
Attendees:
DPAC Executive: Don Sabo, Michelle Rolfes, Chris Finke, Gillian Burnett, Sarah Holland and Steve Shannon
Partner Groups: Brian Pepper, Superintendent; Matt Pierce and Tina Cousins, PGDTA; Lois Boone, Trustee; Ian Landy, PGPVPA; Lorraine Prouse, CUPE
School Reps: Aboriginal Choice School, Beaverly, Ecole College Heights, Foothills(elluminate), Hart Highlands, Heather Park, Kelly Road, Ecole Lac des Bois, Nukko Lake, Mackenzie Secondary (elluminate), Pineview, Pinewood, PGSS, Quinson, Southridge, Spruceland and Vanway
Guests: Sharon Bourassa
1. Adoption of Agenda
Amendments – Addition of 7(a) Notice of Nomination for Trustee and 7(b) BCCPAC Funding
Motion to accept agenda – Ecole Lac des Bois
Seconded by – Ecole College Heights
2. Adoption of Previous Minutes
Motion to accept agenda – Ecole College Heights
Seconded by –Aboriginal Choice
3. PAC Networking
Discussions were held about:
• New playgrounds – Vanway working on accessible playground this coming year, Lac des Bois received $1000 from Integris allowing for swings this year and Heather Park had a playground installed from the closed Springwood school.
• Direction given to Aboriginal Choice to visit website for information on financials(911 Workshop)
• New administration in schools, condolences for Norm Kidwell’s passing
• Work completed or not completed to school facilities over the summer – playground installations, yet still awaiting completion of parking lots and modular.
• Review of Draft letter regarding Standing Committee (item 6(h))
4. Reports
(a) DPAC Chair Report
See attached
(b) Treasurer’s Report
See attached
(c) Superintendent’s Report
See attached
(d) Trustee Report – Lois Boone
• Not much to report since there has yet to be a Board meeting this year.
• Noted that elections are coming up and reiterated that she would not be running, but encouraged anyone interested in running to contact any trustee with questions.
(e) PGDTA Report – Matt Pierce/Tina Cousins
? Introduced Tina Cousins as 1st Vice-president.
? Provided update on job action which began on Sept 6
? Explained teachers had been working for 10 yrs. under an illegally stripped contract, according to BCTF’s interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling. At this point the Provincial Gov’t has different interpretation and will return to court for clarification on Oct. 11
? At provincial table, discussions basically haven’t progressed, still negotiating the ‘split of issues’
Q. How should PAC’s approach communicating with teachers regarding participation in PAC events and programs?
A. Teachers encouraged to attend PAC meetings.
Q. Why do teachers appear to have differing views regarding what they can and can’t do during the job action?
A. Teachers have differing levels of awareness; PGDTA is working on clarifying this for all members.
Q. How long is this Phase of job action likely to last?
A. Depends on how much movement there is from parties in negotiations.
Q. Is it true that teachers can no longer collect $ from students and does this include $ for PAC events and programs?
A. Teachers are collecting no $ period.
Q. What can parents volunteer for during job action?
A. Teachers do not view parent volunteers as taking away from their work. It would only be a problem if parents or any other staff stepped in to restore services being withheld as part of the job action.
Drew attention to the fact that all services involved with providing instruction are still being done, only those services that are NOT directly associated with instruction are being withheld.
Chair declares item 6(f) on the agenda covered during this discussion.
(f) PGVPA Report – Ian Landy
• Expressed thanks for acknowledging Norm Kidwell’s passing, noting that it had been hard on many at the district offices and school staff.
• Announced that the district had hired 2 new principals and 5 new vice-principals this year.
(g) CUPE Report – Lorraine Prouse
• Discussed the on-going negotiations concerning their contract. Noted that they had been given 10 days for negotiations between now and the end of Oct.
Q Is job action possible?
A CUPE will give BCPSEA the next 10 days of negotiations offered.
(h) DSAC Report –
5. Committee Reports
(a) EPPC Committee Report – Chris Finke (Alternate: Gillian Burnett)
• See attached
(b) Education Services Committee Report- Stephen Shannon (Alternate: Sarah Holland)
• Nothing to report
• Discussion concerning Confidentiality and the timing of the release of information.
(c) Policy/Governance Committee Report – Don Sabo (Alternate: Dennis Fudge)
• DPAC wasn’t invited to a meeting
• Noted that DPAC had submitted input regarding Policies 1230 and 1231.
6. Announcements/New Business
(a) Communications re: Strike Action / Bargaining from PGDTA and School Board
• Superintendent Pepper drew attention to the carefully worded letter he had sent out and indicated that if there were changes he would likely write another letter.
• Information can be found on BCTF and BCPSEA websites as well.
(b) Process for selecting DPAC reps to BCCPAC conferences
• Information available on website.
• Item tables till next meeting.
(c) Process for reviewing BCCPAC resolutions
• Discussion and suggestions made.
MOTION
Motion to establish a sub-committee made up of DPAC reps/parents whose task will be to establish a process for selecting DPAC reps to BCCPAC conferences and reviewing BCCPAC resolutions.
CARRIED
• Volunteers called for this sub-committee.
• Committee members Darlene Campbell
Jacqueline Dockray
Chris Finke
Dennis Fudge
Sarah Holland
(d) Report on Community Gaming Workshop (Chris Finke)
• Was attended on Aug 18th
• Mostly focused on providing information about how to use the online processes.
(e) Communication & Outreach (Sarah Holland)
• Update on what has been done to date.
• Discussion about BCCPAC holding a regional conference in Feb. and suggested our conference/workshop is held in conjunction with this.
• Many suggestions forthcoming regarding further work.
(f) Parent volunteering during teacher job action
• Covered under item 4(e)
(g) DPAC letter / Submission to Community Gaming Forum Sept 15th
• After some revision accepted unanimously 1 abstention
(h) On-going Sustainability Committee submit letter and report to School Board & critical stakeholders
• Covered during PAC networking.
7. Other Business
(a) Notice of Nomination for Trustee
• Nomination packages available now.
(b) BCCPAC Funding
• Drew attention to recent article regarding the cancellation of funding for BCCPAC.
• Concern expressed that this could be seen as an indication of cuts to come for PACs and DPACs.
8. Agenda items for next meeting
3rd party businesses targeting PACs as market
9. Adjournment – Next meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 3, 2011 at 7:00 pm Van Bien Training and Development Centre.
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