DPAC VSB Budget 2018/2019 Update

VSB  Budget 2018/19

• On March 8  during our DPAC Executive Meeting, VSB Secretary Treasurer, David Green, gave a brief VSB Budget update.
• On March 15, the Ministry of Education (MoE) announced district Operating Grants  for 2018/19. Unlike previous years, there were slight increases in per student and unique student needs funding and no deduction for 'Administrative Savings.' With a projected enrolment decline of ~600 students and the slight increases, VSB will be getting slightly more than last year ... basically status quo.
• On April 12 following our DPAC General Meeting, David Green will lead a Workshop to inform and gather feedback from parents and guardians before presenting VSB's 2018/19 preliminary budget on April 17.
• Public survey from April 18 - May 9
• Public consultation on April 24
• In the new timeline, the trustees will not be voting on the budget until the June 25 board meeting.
• draft timeline 

Long Range Facilities Plan Update 

• Update given at March 14 Committee II
• Current (2016) LRFP

New Curriculum series

1. What does the new curriculum look like: An overview of BC's redesigned learning
2. New curriculum fosters life-long learning for Walter Moberly Elementary's kindergarten class 
3. New curriculum begins next year for Grade 10s, meaning new options for this year's Grade 9s in course selection
4. By creating podcasts with seniors, Tecumseh students learn about communication, a core competency of BC's new curriculum
5. Indigenous focus in the new curriculum helps students develop 'mastery'

Parental access to Student Records and Student Information Policy

• Passed at the April 3 board meeting after discussion at March 7 Committee I (minutes)
• Purpose: The Vancouver Board of Education SD #39 recognizes that positive communications between home and school contribute to student success and that parents/guardians are entitled to student records pursuant to the School Act. Students have rights of access to their own records under the School Act and the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA). Parents or guardians may exercise these rights on behalf of children, in accordance with the Family Law Act, who are too young to exercise them for themselves. The School Act also recognizes a “joint” right of students and parents to inspect student records, as defined in the School Act.
• Policy: The Board will allow access to student records to parents and guardians to the extent legally permissible. In making decisions regarding the disclosure of student records to a student's parents/guardians, the Board will be guided by the School Act, the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, other relevant legal considerations, and the best interests of the student.

Staffing

• Teacher and Teacher Support Staffing Update Report presented at March 14 Committee IV meeting
• Superintendent Suzanne Hoffman and Director of Instruction Adrian Keough are traveling to Europe with the Ministry of Education and BCTF to recruit French-language teachers (announcement)
• Finance department has been reorganized with 2 assistant secretary treasurers and 2 new managers replacing the previous director of finance and supervisor positions. Lisa Landry has been promoted to Assistant Secretary Treasurer - District Services. Shehzad Somji was hired as Assistant Secretary Treasurer - Financial Services (announcement)
• On April 2 Rob Fleming, Minister of Education, rescinded his executive order making Dianne Turner VBE's special advisor.