2013-10-28 DPAC General Meeting Minutes
D.P.A.C.MEETING NOTES
Schou Education Centre
4041 Canada Way
Burnaby, B.C.
DATE: October 28, 2013
TIME: 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Schools Attending:
Burnaby South, Clinton, Byrne Creek, Taylor Park, Burnaby Central, Buckingham, Gilpin, Moscrop, Cascade Heights, Inman, Marlborough, Burnaby Mountain, Cameron, Forest Grove, Lyndhurst, Seaforth, University Highlands, Cariboo Hill, Armstrong, Twelfth Avenue, Alpha, Confederation Park, Gilmore, Kitchener, Aubrey, Capitol Hill, Lochdale, Montecito.
District Staff:
Kevin Kaardal, Superintendent of Schools; Gina Niccoli-Moen, Deputy Superintendent; Heather Hart, Assistant Superintendent; Peter Dubinsky, Director of Instruction; David Rawnsley, Principal Byrne Creek Secondary.
Board of Education Trustee:
Larry Hayes (Cariboo Lougheed), Gary Wong (Brentwood North), Baljinder Narang (Kingsway South)
DPAC Executive:
Katherine Robertson, Chair (Central West), Jen Mezei, Past and Vice Chair (Cariboo Lougheed), Gjoa Andrichuk, Secretary (Central West), Members at Large Dave Dye (Cariboo Lougheed), Herman Louie (Central West), Romy Bacchioni (Kingsway South), Steve Billington (Kingsway South).
Regrets: Jocelyn Schonekess, Treasurer (Brentwood North), Kristin Schnider, Secretary (Cariboo Lougheed), Victoria Brenden (Brentwood North).
Representation has now been filled in Burnaby South Zone: Welcome new members!
1. District Presentation: Community Schools presented by:
- Gina Niccoli-Moen, Deputy Superintendent
- Peter Dubinsky, Director of Instruction
- Dave Rawnsley, Principal Byrne Creek
Community Schools
Gina Niccoli-Moen began with quotes to inspire us. Peter Dubinsky explained that a community school is a hub of the community set to build stronger families and improve student learning. We watched a video on community schools prepared by Vicki Ma. The philosophy has nine components, early learning, enhancing learning by bringing in the community, after school programs, youth connections leading in the community, family support services beyond the classroom, agency integration, community use of facilities, community connections tapping into “real connections.”
The video ended with the question: “Why doesn’t every school become a community school?”
Currently Burnaby has 7 Community schools: Lochdale, Byrne Creek (awaiting status approval), Stride, Stoney Creek, Gilmore, 2nd Street, Edmonds, and Maywood.
The goal of the school is to use the school for “desired” community programs. The philosophy is to take the community connections and blend them with development of the community and lifelong learning for all ages. A difference in the community development perspective is sustainability. If a person is to leave the school, the supports will follow that person because there is a person who has a job coordinating needs.
Differences in how Community schools operate:
- Community school council – not like PAC which is only for parents, but community members can join. Things that are discussed beyond the walls of the school
- District Community Advisory and Coordinating Committee – the advisory body to the school district and the city.
- Community School Team – In Burnaby, Community schools have a Community School Coordinator that reports to the Principal and is a teacher, and administers and manages community and school operations.
- A coordinator’s job is to coordinate community partnerships and liaisons.
- A strong sense of belonging is articulated by those who participate in community schools.
A lot of research is done for how to keep getting existing resources to meet the needs of the broader community.
A tabletop session followed the presentation and had four questions to be discussed by parents:
- What are some thoughts about what you have heard?
- What questions do you still have?
- What more would you like to know about?
- How can PAC and Community Councils work together to strengthen and enhance community?
A sampling of questions from the parents are as follows:
- “Why doesn’t every school become a community school?”
- What are the criteria to become a Community School?
- How are programs run by parents when parents at the school I’ve been involved in have to have a staff member accompanying them? Could you explain the programs?
- How are their extra budgets for appointing designated positions to connect families to resources?
- How do you get people to volunteer? Are their secrets to getting participation? Many schools have this as a challenge.
- Can students from other schools join into the programs?
Conversations in the Answers period cover these areas:
A consultation process is how community schools begin. Over the last forty years, we have been having some community schools grow. Burnaby would like to stretch its resources to find out how to strengthen communities at all schools. The process starts from the school’s initiative between the school, the city, and the district to get the designation of a community school. The evening programs benefit to other kids in other families, not just the ones who attend that particular community schools.
Funding: The board of education operates community schools, and the city is a supporter. The United Way, is also a supporter (for after school programs). The PAC still looks at the needs, and doesn’t change its mandate from any other school.
In summary a community school is about bringing the community in, and bringing the school out.
2. Chair Report – Katherine Robertson
Katherine had some follow up announcements from last meeting: Instead of self registering on the DPAC website to upload your content to the website, please email your request for sharing information to info@burnabydpac.com and we will either post the information to the website or to the Facebook page if the information is more community based.
We have two new Executive members from the Kingsway South region: Romy Bacchioni from Taylor Park and Steve Billington from Clinton Elementary. Victoria Brenden has resigned from the DPAC executive so we have a vacancy in the Brentwood North region.
3. Correspondence and Committee Reports
DTAC
ADSL upgrades at Elementary have all been scheduled completed by Jan 14th. Further infrastructure changes will be looked at as project proceeds, future updates are not budgeted for yet. Office 365 and student emails will be rolled out early in the new year once the new exchange server is in place for Elementary schools. Office 365 and Skydrive will not be available for staff due to FOIPPA concerns.
Digital Literacy & Citizenship, District plan for appropriate & responsible technology usage. Technology is now being used in most classrooms Based upon resources found at Common Sense Media and Digital Citizenship. Development and implementation of this program is hoped to be at the same time as the rollout of office 365.
Buildings and Grounds
Confederation Park pedestrian access: District Traffic & Safety Committee did get this topic on the agenda at the City of Burnaby’s Traffic Safety Committee meeting. It was discussed with the City stating it would be reviewed. SD41 will follow-up with Parks & Rec however noted that the problem areas are ultimately the responsibility of City/Parks & Rec.
- Adult Crossing Guard program being reviewed. Note that any change in location of crossing guards is a charged item.
- Rosser Elementary will be getting a YMCA daycare.
- Alpha still in the works for renovations with approval in the next 3-6 months. Construction over a three year period, North Secondary to be next after Alpha. A new high school for North is projected to cost $60 to $70 million.
- Annual Facilities grant was spent on upgrades to lighting, plumbing, washrooms, roofing, fibre optics, fields, mechanical/HVAC, flooring (including gymnasium) replacements, roofing projects, and site services. Some delays were due to delivery issues with plumbing and flooring.
- District’s Five Year Capital Plan includes:
– Brentwood land acquisition & new school
– Addition to University Highlands Elementary
– Addition to Cameron Elementary
– New elementary school for SFU/Burnaby Mountain
– Byrne Creek Secondary School addition
– Building Envelope Projects at Montecito, Stoney Creek, Seaforth, Maywood
– HVAC upgrades at Stride, Aubrey, Nelson
– Seismic Upgrades (minor)
Youth & Community Services
- Watched a proposal from Charity group Canada SCORES. Wanting to bring a program into Burnaby schools to work with vulnerable youth focusing on soccer and poetry. Looking at Edmonds and Stride. They had a gala fundraiser to raise money for this program on October 24th at Westin Bayshore.
- Steering committee formed to review Burnaby’s community schools, goals and social sustainability plan, effectiveness of current Community School structure. Report to be complete by March 2014.
Food Waste
- Nine pilot schools are doing activities to get into compliance with the district requirement coming in 2016. Logistics are still being worked out in terms of janitorial support and sorting of bins. Nine more schools are being solicited to participate bringing the total to 18. Lots of schools are participating without being part of a pilot, but the district needs to learn how to create a system within itself.
4. New Business/Q & A/ Show & Tell
University Highlands is having a hot chocolate bake sale and breakfast with Santa in December.
Lochdale is hosting a craft fair on the 30th of November. Contact their council if interested.
Moscrop is holding a musical entitled “Zombie Prom” in the Spring.
Question: What if there is a safety plan if a pipeline bursts?
ANSWER: Burnaby has a plan and will be running drills for schools around pipelines.
e.g. Lochdale has had a briefing for what to do.
The Canadian Parents for French would love more participation from parents from French Immersion schools. Google Canadian Parent for French and see the pull down menu for Burnaby Chapters.
5. Next Meeting – Monday, November 25, 2013
6. Meeting Adjourned 8:50pm
Thank you all for participating.
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