Welcome to the Winter 2004 Provincial Council Meeting

Motion A.1. – Agenda “That the following item be added under H. Late Reports: H.1 Clarity in Interpreting Special Needs Categories and Adequate Funding H.2 Funding Withdrawal Resulting from Special Needs Audits

Motion A.2. – Agenda “That the agenda be adopted as amended.”

Motion B.1. – Minutes “That the minutes of the meeting of November 1, 2003 be adopted.”

Motion C.1. – Oral Report “That the oral reports of the BCSTA Education Committee and First Nations Education Committee be received.”

Motion C.2. – Oral Report “That the President’s oral report be received.”

Motion C.3. – Oral Report “That the Executive Director’s oral report be received.”

Motion C.4. – Oral Report “That the oral report of the CSBA Director be received.”

Motion D.1. – Action Item “That the Provincial Council receive the 2004/2005 BCSTA draft budget.”

Motion E.1. – Action Item “That BCSTA survey BC school districts to determine: estimated deficits for 2003/04; projected deficits for 2004/05; and the adverse effects of Ministry under-funding and increased operating costs on district programs and operations.”

Motion E.1. – Action Item “That BCSTA survey BC school districts to determine: estimated deficits for 2003/04; projected deficits for 2004/05; and the adverse effects of Ministry under-funding and increased operating costs on district programs and operations.”

Motion E.2. – Action Item “That BCSTA urge government to: require and fund eye examinations for all students entering K/1 in the public school system, recognizing that compromised student achievement due to visual impairment has enormous social and economic costs; and (cont.)

Motion E.2. – Action Item “That BCSTA urge government to: require and fund eye examinations for all students entering K/1 in the public school system, recognizing that compromised student achievement due to visual impairment has enormous social and economic costs; and (cont.)

Motion E.2. – Action Item (cont.) b) provide eyeglass funding for those students requiring financial assistance.”

Motion E.2. – Action Item (cont.) b) provide eyeglass funding for those students requiring financial assistance.”

Motion E.3. – Action Item “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to propose an amendment to Section 79(2) of the School Act to change the submission date of accountability contracts to ‘on or before November 30 of each year’.”

Motion E.3. – Action Item “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to propose an amendment to Section 79(2) of the School Act to change the submission date of accountability contracts to ‘on or before November 30 of each year’.”

Motion E.4. – Action Item “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to propose an amendment to Section 100.1 of the School Act which would permit boards to lease excess space and to record the proceeds in either the operating or local capital accounts, unless there is an option to purchase at the end of the lease and then the proceeds would be recorded in capital reserve.”

Motion E.4. – Action Item “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to propose an amendment to Section 100.1 of the School Act which would permit boards to lease excess space and to record the proceeds in either the operating or local capital accounts, unless there is an option to purchase at the end of the lease and then the proceeds would be recorded in capital reserve.”

Motion E.5. – Action Item “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to upgrade the FREDS web-based software program system to incorporate the quarterly Government Reporting Entity so that this process is user-friendly and time-efficient for school district staff.”

Motion E.5. – Action Item “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to upgrade the FREDS web-based software program system to incorporate the quarterly Government Reporting Entity so that this process is user-friendly and time-efficient for school district staff.”

Motion E.6. – Action Item “That BCSTA urge the Minister of Education to provide specific funding for school boards to develop effective programs in support of safe, caring and orderly schools.”

Motion E.6. – Action Item “That BCSTA urge the Minister of Education to provide specific funding for school boards to develop effective programs in support of safe, caring and orderly schools.”

Motion E.7. – Action Item “That BCSTA: Advise BC Hydro of the impact a rate increase would have on school board budgets, and urge that they receive an exemption recognizing school district financial constraints; and (cont.)

Motion E.7. – Action Item “That BCSTA: Advise BC Hydro of the impact a rate increase would have on school board budgets, and urge that they receive an exemption recognizing school district financial constraints; and (cont.)

Motion E.7. – Action Item (cont.) b) Urge the Minister of Education to recommend to BC Hydro that school boards be exempt from a utility rate increase, if it is approved, recognizing the limitations on public funding for school boards.”

Motion E.7. – Action Item (cont.) b) Urge the Minister of Education to recommend to BC Hydro that school boards be exempt from a utility rate increase, if it is approved, recognizing the limitations on public funding for school boards.”

Motion G.1. – Committee Reports “That the Board of Directors meeting minutes of October 31 and December 4, 2003, be received.”

Motion G.2. – Committee Reports “That the Education Committee meeting minutes of October 30-31, 2003 be received.”

Motion G.3. – Committee Reports “That the Finance Committee meeting minutes of October 31 and November 20, 2003 and the draft meeting minutes of December 4, 2003 be received.”

Motion G.4. – Committee Reports “That the First Nations Education Committee meeting minutes of October 30-31, 2003 be received.”

Motion H.1. – Late Reports “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to: clarify in consultation with school districts, Special Education Guidelines in order to minimize conflicting interpretations by Ministry auditors and school districts; and (cont.)

Motion H.1. – Late Reports “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to: clarify in consultation with school districts, Special Education Guidelines in order to minimize conflicting interpretations by Ministry auditors and school districts; and (cont.)

Motion H.1. – Late Reports (cont.) b) fund special education students based on the support required for school districts to address the impact that medical conditions have on students’ education.”

Motion H.1. – Late Reports (cont.) b) fund special education students based on the support required for school districts to address the impact that medical conditions have on students’ education.”

Motion H.2. – Late Reports “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to delay withdrawing funding until the next budget year for special need students denied support as a result of audit, in order to allow schools time to plan for the reduced support and to avoid deficits in the current year.”

Motion H.2. – Late Reports “That BCSTA request the Minister of Education to delay withdrawing funding until the next budget year for special need students denied support as a result of audit, in order to allow schools time to plan for the reduced support and to avoid deficits in the current year.”

Motion I.1. – Miscellaneous “That the tracking of Provincial Council Decisions of November 1, 2003 be received.

Motion I.2. – Miscellaneous “That the status report on representing Annual General Meeting 2003 Resolutions be received.

Thank you Have a safe trip home