There were a number of items of local interest during last Monday’s School District 73 board meeting, according to John Harwood, trustee for the Clearwater-Blue River area.
An update from school superintendent Terry Sullivan on the district/community literacy plan included reports from Kerry Milner-Cairns, literacy coordinator for the Clearwater-Blue River area, and from Barb Gordon, literacy coordinator for the Lower North Thompson Valley from McLure to Little Fort.
“The concern here is whether there will be ongoing funding,” said Harwood. “The board will be making representations to Victoria and the MLAs about that.”
In her report, Milner-Cairns noted that Canfor-Vavenby continues to be shut down, although there it has been announced that it will reopen in the fall of 2011.
There are fewer permanent and seasonal full-time jobs in the community than a year ago and many families are having a hard time. A literacy task group has been set up and a variety of community partnerships developed.
Milner-Cairns pointed to an increased number of learners participating and finishing courses in the Partners Assisted Learning (PAL) program as one indicator of success. There has been an increase in learners wanting to pass their GED (high school equivalency) so they can increase their employability and income when the mill reopens.
The Lower North Thompson Valley continues to experience economic uncertainty, said Gordon in her report. The one remaining mill has cut back hours for all employees. On the bright side, the forest industry has experienced increased market demand and there are eight potential mines under exploration.
She noted that a homework assistance program has been so successful that there is a wait list.
Students in School District 73 achieved some good results in the most recent Fundamental Skills Assessment (FSA), Harwood noted.
For example, 84 per cent of Grade 7 students met or exceeded expectations in writing skills in the exam, 12 per cent above the provincial average.
That number drops to 79 per cent for Aboriginal students in Grade 7, but that is still 24 per cent above the average for Aboriginal students across the province.
Secretary-treasurer Kelvin Stretch recommended that remuneration for the chair, vice-chair and trustees be increased by five to six per cent.
“That always makes page one news,” Harwood commented.
However, the board postponed a decision on the recommendation.
At present the board chair makes about $20,000 per year, the vice-chair $19,000, and the trustees $18,000.
