M I N U T E S of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees of Medicine Hat School District No

M I N U T E S OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF MEDICINE HAT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 76 HELD IN THE BOARD ROOM IN THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE ON TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007, AT 7:00 P.M.

TRUSTEES PRESENT: Ms. Deborah Forbes, Mrs. Gitta Hashizume, Mr. Greg Bender Mr. Terry Riley, Dr. L.J. (Roy) Wilson

OFFICIALS PRESENT: Dr. Linda Rossler, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Grant Henderson, Associate Superintendent-Human Resources Mr. Jerry Labossiere, Secretary-Treasurer Ms. Leanne Dulle, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer

OTHERS IN ATTENDANCE: Mr. Andy Christie, Director of Facilities

CHAIR: Ms. Deborah Forbes

SECRETARY: Ms. Leanne Dulle

I. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

The agenda was amended to include the following items:

1) Information- Newspaper column from Calgary Herald 2) Action – Junior Kindergarten Program

87. Mr. Bender THAT the Agenda be approved as amended.

CARRIED

II. ADOPTION OF MINUTES

88. Mrs. Hashizume THAT the Minutes of the Regular Board and Committee of the Whole meetings held on Tuesday, March 6, 2007 be adopted. CARRIED

II. CORRESPONDENCE

III. RECOGNITIONS/ACCOMPLISHMENTS

1. Student Video Competition

Congratulations to Ciarra Glass, student at Crescent Heights High School, for her winning submission in the Student Video Competition at the Medicine Hat Film Festival. Ciarra also received the Audience Choice Award.

Congratulations to Ms. Donna Armstrong, Teacher, and Crescent Heights High School Communication Technology students whose video and animation projects were chosen for the Medicine Hat Film Festival 2007. IV. PRESENTATIONS

1. Presentation by Sheila Donner

Congratulations to Sheila Donner’s 8T class at Crescent Heights High School for winning $1000 in a contest sponsored by EnCana using The Lifestyle Journey. The winning DVD was shown to trustees at the meeting.

2. Special Education Profile

Kathy Hall-Deibert, Director of Student Services, reported on Special Education services provided to District students.

3. Transportation Update

Leanne Dulle, Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, updated the trustees on the preliminary results of the transportation audit that is currently being conducted by the Transportation Manager of Alberta Education.

4. Cypress Accord Plan

The Steering Committee for the Cypress Accord Plan provided trustees with a copy of a letter and surveys going out to stakeholder groups.

V. ITEMS FOR ACTION

1. Final Approval for Out-of-Country Field Trips

89. Mr. Riley THAT the Board give final approval to the field trip by Crescent Heights High School to Paris, France in April, 2007 on the condition that police checks for two parents are received without any issues.

APPROVED

90. Dr. Wilson THAT the Board give final approval to the field trip by Crescent Heights High School to New York City in April, 2007. APPROVED

91. Mr. Riley THAT the Board give final approval to the field trip by Medicine Hat High School to New York City in April, 2007. APPROVED

2. Locally Developed Courses expiring August 31, 2007

A number of the locally developed courses used in Medicine Hat School District No. 76 will expire in August, 2007. 92. Dr. Wilson THAT the Board re-authorize the locally developed/acquired programs listed on the attached enclosure for an additional three years.

APPROVED

3. Junior Kindergarten

Vicki Glass presented to the Board the need for a full-time Junior Kindergarten Program at Central Park School.

93. Mr. Riley THAT the Board accept the full day Junior Kindergarten Program under the assumption that the program is self-sustaining.

VI. DELEGATIONS

VII. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

1. Coordinating Committee

Minutes of the Coordinating Committee’s Working Committee meeting, held on Monday, March 5, 2007, were distributed to the Board and were presented by Gitta Hashizume.

94. Mrs. Hashizume THAT the Board receive the Minutes of the Coordinating Committee meeting held on Monday, March 5, 2007, a copy of which is attached hereto and forms part of these minutes. CARRIED

2. Education Foundation

Minutes of the Education Foundation meeting, held on February 21, 2007, were distributed to the Board and were discussed by Terry Riley.

95. Mr. Riley THAT the Board receive the Minutes of the Education Foundation meeting held on February 21, 2007, a copy of which is attached hereto and forms part of these minutes. CARRIED

VIII. ITEMS FOR INFORMATION

1. Letter from W. J. Danny McLeod

The Board received a letter from Major McLeod indicating his thanks to the Board for its efforts and participation in him receiving an Honorary Alberta High School Diploma. Major McLeod is expecting to come to Medicine Hat in October, 2007.

2. Public School Boards Council of Alberta

Gitta presented the agenda for the March 22-24, 2007 Public School Boards Council Meeting and the Minutes of the February 1-3, 2007 Public School Boards Council Meeting. The Minister of Education is planning to attend the March meeting. Two issues that will be discussed include CASS proposal and Property Taxes.

3. Quarterly Budget Update

Jerry Labossiere updated the Board on the changes in reporting practices by Alberta Education.

The Province is now requiring a reporting submission on March 31, 2007. The Board will receive an update to the end of March, rather than February, to align with the new reporting requirements.

4. Article from Calgary Herald – Dr. Wilson

Dr. Wilson discussed an article from the Calgary Herald surrounding the Fraser Institute’s release of school rankings.

IX. MOVE TO COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

96. Mrs. Hashziume THAT the Board move to the Committee of the Whole to discuss certain confidential matters. CARRIED

The Board moved to Committee of the Whole at 8:10 p.m.

X. RECONVENE TO OPEN BOARD MEETING

The Board reconvened to Open Board meeting at 9:20 p.m.

XI. ACTION ARISING OUT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING

XII. ADJOURNMENT

97. Mr. Riley THAT the meeting adjourn. CARRIED

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.

SECRETARY