Governance Inquiry By Alaina Hampshire

Question: What role do school Trusties play in BC’s Education?

Current SD68 Trustees Jamie Brennan Noah Routley Bill Robinson Tania Brzovio Steve Rae Jamie Brennan Scott Kimler Jeff Solomon Bill Robinson Stephanie Higginson Natasha Bob

What Do Trusties Do? According to British Columbia School Trusties Association (BCSTA) school trusties: British Columbia is a large province with many communities, each having different priorities, needs and unique educational requirements. British Columbians elect their Boards of Education to improve student achievement according to the diverse needs of these communities. As locally elected representatives, the trustees on these boards best understand their respective communities’ particular strengths, challenges and demands. Trustees engage their communities in building and maintaining a school system that reflects local priorities, values and expectations. School trustees listen to their communities; guide the work of their school district; and set plans, policies and the annual budget. Reflecting the strength of local representation, boards report back to their communities on how students are doing: boards are directly accountable to the people they serve. http://www.bcsta.org/what_trustees_do

Board of Education School Trusties are part of a Bard of Education for their district. The board of Education, as co-governors with the provincial Ministry of Education, is responsible for district level policy that: Enhances student achievement Hire and manage the senior district staff Ensure the prudent use and control of the districts resources They should always make decisions in the best interest of the students and the district.

Meetings Board business is carried out either in full board or committee meetings. Regular business meetings are open to the public In camera meetings are reserved for especially sensitive and confidential matters and are open to the board members and senior administrators only Meetings are generally held on a bi-weekly or monthly basis

Mandated Responsibilities Aboriginal Enhancement Agreements- framework for involving Aboriginal communities in a variety of decision-making Appeals-The School Act provides an exception when a staff decision has a significant impact on the education, health or safety of a student. In these cases, the student or parent has a right to appeal to the board of education. Appointment of superintendent, secretary treasurer, directors of instruction, principals and vice- principals Auditor appointment Board/authority authorized programs - The district can also develop courses that meet the particular aptitudes and interests of its students. These must be approved by the board and are called board/authority authorized (BAA) courses. Capital plan - Each year, boards submit five-year capital plans for school building projects they wish to undertake.

Mandated Responsibilities Employee suspensions- While most employee discipline is dealt with by the boards administrative staff, the board has specific authority to suspend an employee charged with a criminal offence, or to confirm, vary or revoke a superintendents suspension of an employee where student welfare is threatened by the employees presence. Local school calendars- The board must approve any non-standard calendar. Policies and bylaws- The School Act requires boards to have policies on specific matters (e.g., anaphylaxis, student codes of conduct, disposal of land). School catchment areas and school choice- Boards must establish school catchment areas and establish rules relating to applications and priorities for enrollments. School fees and hardship policies- School fees must be published annually and many boards, because of the sensitivity of this issue, review and approve them specifically. Boards must have policies and procedures that facilitate participation by BC school age students who would otherwise be excluded by financial hardship.

Mandated Responsibilities School opening and closure decisions- The decision whether to close a school is one of the most difficult decisions that trustees may have to make. The board must have a policy that includes public consultation processes and the final decision is made by bylaw. Student achievement report- The board must annually approve the superintendent’s report on student achievement for submission to the Minister of Education. Student code of conduct- The board is required to have a student code of conduct that meets provincial standards and ensure that schools publicize the codes of conduct and annually review them, in accordance with the provincial standards. Student discipline- Boards must make rules governing student suspensions, which set out any limits on the authority of principals or the superintendent to suspend students; a decision to refuse to provide an educational program to a student 16 or over would also be formally made by the board.

Elections

Elections The overall qualifications for nomination, election and appointment are that the person meet the following requirements: an individual who is, or will be on general voting day or effective date of appointment, age 18 or older a Canadian citizen a resident of British Columbia for at least six months before the date of the nomination, election or appointment not disqualified under the School Act or any other enactment from being nominated for, elected to or holding office as trustee.

Benefits of Being a Trustees Pay Total salary for 9 Trustees in the Nanaimo District (1 Chairperson, 8 Other) is $170,327 Nanaimo school districts Trustees make an average of $18,925 Langley school districts Trustees make an average of $18,483 Teresa Rezansoff, president of the B.C. School Trustees Association says:, We’re that vital and critical link back to the community. Without that link, decisions would be made in a vacuum. Trustees are the ones who know and reflect the desires of local people.

*If everyone who voted, voted for 9 Trustees and 8 Councillors Data from: http://globalnews.ca/news/1670010/nanaimo-election-results-2014-full-results-in-the-mayoral-race/ http://www.nanaimo.ca/EN/main/departments/Legislative-Services/4609/2014-general-election.html http://www.elections.civicinfo.bc.ca/2011/reports/electionresults.asp http://www.mountbensonschool.ca/pac/upload/Officialelectionresults-2008-poll-by-poll.pdf http://www.nanaimo.ca/EN/main/departments/Legislative-Services/4609/previous-elections.html

Why do you think voting turn out is so low?

The End

Bibliography http://www.langleytimes.com/news/136677488.html http://www.sd68.bc.ca/wp-content/uploads/documents/2014-15- Preliminary-Budget.pdf http://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/jack-knox-low-voter-turnout-is- a-sign-of-contentment-right-1.1466170#sthash.QKg3zATW.dpuf