Final meeting of 2016-17 school year for school board trustees

Trustees for School District 57 meet for the final time tomorrow evening.

Before the evening’s meeting, the City is holding an open house about 290 Voyageur Drive, where Highglen Montessori School used to be. The City is looking for input into development options for the property, which is currently vacant. The open house takes place from 3:30 – 6:30 pm at City Hall.

The school board will discuss approving the 2018-19 Five-Year Capital Plan, which must be submitted to the Ministry of Education by June 30. The School Enhancement Program section of the plan includes $480,000 for radon mitigation and control programs in Edgewood, Harwin, Quinson and Spruceland Elementary schools and College Heights and DP Todd Secondary schools.

As part of the plan, trustees will also be discussing funding options to develop an asbestos management plan. Due to recent changes to WorkSafe BC regulations, the school district is required to put a plan in place to deal with hazardous materials in any and all of its buildings, including “surveying, identifying, and labelling hazardous materials, the creation of a database containing this information, and related worker safety training.” A consultation period will begin this summer and wrap up in December. If funding for the project is not approved as part of the Five-Year Capital Plan, the Education Services Committee is recommending that the District spend $180,000 from this year’s surplus to fund it.

Revisions to Policy 230 Aboriginal Education will also be discussed. Once approved, the changes will be sent out “to reference groups for input as presented.”

Trustees will also consider approving terms of reference for a Catchment and Capacity Review Stakeholder Advisory Committee. The committee’s creation was suggested by District Parent Advisory Council to help keep an eye on capacity issues.

The meeting begins at 7 pm at the School District Building on Ferry Avenue. You can read the full agenda here.