BCSTA Education Committee Meeting & Activities Report April 2012 Prepared by Rob Goodall, Senior Director, Education

April 2012 Summary  Election of officers  Early childhood education resolution - disposition  BCSTA AGM 2012 Evaluation  Conference planning: joint conference November 2012  Conference planning: 2013 CSBA Congress  Alternatives to suspension  ELL Consortium Terms of Reference  Branch reports and planning  Committee and board planning  Student diversity

Election of Officers  The Committee passed a motion that the current Chair and Vice- Chair continue in their positions for the next year.  Chair: Sharel Warrington  Vice-Chair: Silvia Dyck

Early childhood education resolution – disposition  Noted that a modified version of the referred resolution was presented and approved at the BCSTA AGM.  That BCSTA request that the provincial government create a task force comprised of representatives from all ministries responsible for childhood programs and representatives from community childhood program providers to develop an integrated system of early care and learning.

BCSTA AGM 2012 Evaluation  Highlights:  the opening ceremonies with the participation of the Nisga’a students and the Lieutenant Governor  keynote speaker Dr. Evan Adams  the service from the hotel  support from BCSTA staff  Improvements:  More “slack” time around concurrent sessions

Conference planning: joint conference November 2012  Speaker Suggestions:  Michelle Dawson (autism),  Stuart Shanker,  Deborah Jeffrey (LEA),  Clyde Hertzman,  Sharon Gregson,  Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond,  Gordon Neufeld.  Topic Suggestions:  parent engagement,  trustee-superintendent relations  superintendent evaluation  international “big picture” ideas  succession planning  socio-economic status and student success  universities and teacher training, art/music in schools  assistive technology for schools, honoring each child’s individual background  special education/learning assistance  multiple intelligence  sustainable education

Conference planning: 2013 CSBA Congress Suggestions  Gather information from trustees across Canada about what they would like to see included in the event;  Links with post-secondary institutions, teacher training  Declining enrolment  Tours of educational institutions  Recruitment strategies including recruiting internationally  Status and impact of the TILMA agreement  International students  Building up support for public education  Speakers like Nathan Cullen, Daniel Pink, Shawn Atleo

Alternatives to suspension  Cindy Andrew and Dan Reist, Uvic, looking into alternatives to student suspension for drug use  Dan Reist attended the meeting and provided an overview of their research and policy development opportunities  The committee will consider inviting him to return and/or participate as a speaker at a future event.

ELL Consortium Terms of Reference  The Committee reviewed the draft terms of reference  Moved: to ask a representative of the Consortium to attend and liaise at next meeting (of the Education Committee). Carried.

Branch reports and planning  With regard to fall branch meeting plans members suggested leaving planning largely to local trustees and administrators  Moved: that the SDE and Education Committee prepare and send out a “template” to assist branches and districts to prepare for the fall branch meetings, topics and process

Committee and board planning  Suggestions:  raise the profile of the Committee and continuing to clarify its role (revisit Terms of Reference, Fall 2012)  respond to “hot” issues in cooperation with the BCSTA board and Aboriginal Education Committee  communicate with the membership and others, helping boards understand governance and their role vis a vis others in the system  focus on leadership development, assessment and evaluation.

Student diversity  Building on motions from AGM, noted the importance of respecting students’ cultural roots  Members will consider the issue of including greater diversity in the curriculum  Bring this matter back to the next meeting with possibility of guest speaker

Next Meeting  October 25-26, 2012  Agenda items:  Scheduling meetings directly after AGM – desirability of continuing with this practice  CSBA conference planning update and ideas  Alternates to suspension for substance abuse  Developing a statement on bullying for the BCSTA policy  Review of the Committee “job description” (Terms of Reference)