Swan Valley
School Division

Executive Summary of the
January 28, 2019

Submitted by:
Tim Mendel
Superintendent/CEO



1. Brad Klekta has been appointed Acting Transportation Supervisor.

2. The CEO reported that the information night by UCN about offering a two year Bachelor of Education after Degree Program went well. They had about 8 or 9 interested candidates. The program will also be made available to candidates in The Pas, Flin Flon and Dauphin. The classes can connect via the French Consortium IITV or Zoom. A total of 15 participants are needed in order for the program to proceed. Contact Ann Barbour-Stevenson at T 204.627.8802 Ext 4; F 204.623.4831; abarbourstevenson@ucn.ca.

3. Feedback from the budget survey by staff was shared with Trustees. Schools generally feel like they are well resourced and maintained. The area of need that was identified was additional counselling, Lit/Numeracy and resource support.

4. The funding announcement will once again be challenging to SVSD. The Provincial Funding for SVSD will be down by $245,000. This marks the third consecutive Provincial funding reduction for SVSD. The Province has also capped the local levy increase to 2%. This does not allow the Division to have the local taxpayer make up the difference caused by the Provincial reduction. The 2% increase generates about $170,000.

Salary increases have been frozen at 0% but the Division will still incur significant cost increases in salaries because of increments. These increment increases across all employee groups are between $150,000 – $200,000. In addition, the carbon tax will also add to our costs.

At this point in our budgeting process, which is early, we are looking for $300,000 – $400,000. This assumes no additions to our current budget.

5. The Review of the K-12 Education System has started. The commissioners have been named. Please make sure your voice is heard by participating in the process. More information can be found at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/educationreview/. Written submissions will be accepted until May 30, 2019.

6. SVSD Reps will attend Teacher Recruitment Fairs at the University of Brandon on January 31st and the University of Manitoba on February 19th.
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Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held in the Division Office Board Room on January 28, 2019 commencing at 7:00 p.m. (unapproved)

The following were present:
Vice-Chair: G. Wowchuk
Trustees: D. Burghart
K. Highmoor
K. Riehl
V. Rooks
W. Schaffer
Superintendent: T. Mendel
Secretary-Treasurer: B. Rausch

Absent: L. Evans

Additions to Agenda

By Board consensus the following additions to the Agenda were approved:
9.5 Kev Group (New School Accounting System Contract)
19.7.1 MSBA Communication

Resolutions:
R1 K. Riehl, W. Schaffer:
THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of January 14, 2019, be adopted.
CARRIED

R2 V. Rooks, D. Burghart:
THAT the Staffing Report of the Superintendent/CEO, 8.2, as presented, be ratified.
CARRIED

R3 K. Riehl, K. Highmoor:
THAT as per the Report of the Secretary-Treasurer, 9.2, general cheques numbering 54277 to 54383, B 685 to B 706 and transfers (bank fees) and EFT’s, which includes general and payroll in the amount of $1,735,695.25, for the month of December, be approved for payment.
CARRIED

R4 D. Burghart, W. Schaffer:
THAT as per Item 9.5, the Report of the Secretary-Treasurer on the Kev Group School Accounting System, be received and the contract, as outlined, be approved.
CARRIED

R5 K. Highmoor, W. Schaffer:
THAT as per Item 13.1, the request from Kayla Peterson re: Birch River School, End of Year Trip to Science Center in Regina, SK, April 4 & 5, 2019, be received and the request be approved.
CARRIED

R6 W. Schaffer, K. Highmoor:
THAT the Board move to In-Camera.
CARRIED

R7 W. Schaffer, V. Rooks:
THAT the Board move out of In-Camera.
CARRIED

(Trustee Schaffer excused himself for In-Camera Agenda Item 19.5.2)

R8 W. Schaffer, K. Highmoor:
THAT the Personnel Report of the Secretary-Treasurer, 19.1.1, on the Interim Transportation Appointment, be received and the recommendations, as outlined, be approved.
CARRIED.

R9 V. Rooks, K. Riehl:
THAT the Human Relations Committee Report re SVSD Employees’ Pension Plan, 19.5.1, be received and approved in principle.
CARRIED

R10 K. Riehl, V. Rooks:
THAT we do now adjourn at 10:06 p.m.
CARRIED