Swan Valley School Division Minutes – November 23, 2020


Swan Valley
School Division

Executive Summary of the
November 23, 2020

Submitted by:
Jon Zilkey,
Superintendent/CEO




1. The Board reviewed the article on the Westman Consortia in which SVSD is part of, and the work by remote teacher, Nicole Bobick.

2. The Board examined Policy 5: Role of the Board.

3. A reminder to the public they can complete the pre-budget survey on our website www.svsd.ca. It closes on December 4, 2020.

4. The Board discussed the challenges schools are facing with the move to Orange Level. Many new Educational Assistant Staff have been hired to help with this change. The Board also reviewed the remote learning due to orange numbers, and discussions about the fact that our schools have showed to be very safe places to be. They also looked at the plans for Red, should schools have to go to that. The Board discussed the province’s conversations on the Christmas Break but little detail is known as to what they will be doing with this. Trustees also looked at students that were supposed to be homeschooled, and work that is being done to make sure all students are accounted for. It was acknowledged that our school staff continue to be amazing with these changes.

5. Again the Board discussed the recent announcement on the Remote Learning Resource Centre being set up by the provincial government. The Division has picked November 30, 2020, and will be doing a half-day training with Jenni Donohoo with the rest of the Westman Divisions. In addition, December 7, 2020, and February 8, 2021, were chosen.

6. The Board discussed the Fall Manitoba School Boards Association Meetings held on November 21 and 23, 2020, virtually. One comment made was the quality of the PD session on Saturday, referring to the inequity in hiring minorities in School Divisions.

7. The Superintendent discussed the challenges of the snow day on November 9, 2020, with Covid. Due to reduced staff able to get into some of the Swan River Schools and Covid cohorting, it was a challenge to have supervision in all areas. When the situation comes again, parents will need to understand that this will not be a normal school day with Covid, and schools will do the best they can on these days.

8. Student Services Achievement Coordinator Patti Hack gave an hour presentation on her role and the changes she has seen and made with Covid. Mrs. Hack commented on all the challenges we are seeing in inequity and trauma in all ages, particularly our young students which have been expanded with Covid. She talked about how the Student Services Team has responded to these challenges. Great presentation!
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Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Trustees held in the Division Office Board Room on
November 23, 2020 commencing at 7:00 p.m. (unapproved)

The following were present:
Chair: G. Wowchuk
Vice-Chair: W. Schaffer
Trustees: D. Burghart
L. Evans
K. Highmoor
K. Riehl
V. Rooks – electronic
Superintendent: J. Zilkey
Secretary-Treasurer: B. Rausch
Resolutions:

R1 V. Rooks, D. Burghart:
THAT the Minutes of the regular meeting of November 9, 2020, be adopted.
CARRIED

R2 K. Riehl, W. Schaffer:
THAT notification of Executive Representatives from the Benito School Parent Council, Item 7.3, be received, and acknowledged by the Board of Trustees for the 2020/21 school year.
CARRIED

R3 K. Highmoor, V. Rooks:
THAT as per Report 8.2, the Joint Facility Use Agreement between University College of the North and the Swan Valley School Division to facilitate UCN’s access to the Trades Building for the period November 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021, as outlined, be ratified.
CARRIED

R4 W. Schaffer, K. Highmoor:
THAT the Board move to In-Camera.
CARRIED

R5 D. Burghart, K. Riehl:
THAT the Board move out of In-Camera.
CARRIED

R6 L. Evans, K. Highmoor:
THAT the Staffing Reports of the Superintendent/CEO, 7.2 and 16.2.1, be ratified.
CARRIED

R7 K. Highmoor, K. Riehl:
THAT we do now adjourn at 10:22 p.m.
CARRIED