Hears discipline report
School District 47 superintendent Jay Yule’s monthly report of student suspensions to the board of directors at its November 21 meeting indicates little change from 2016/2017 year-to-date report. Through September and October of the 2017/2018 school year, seven suspensions of 10 days or fewer were handed out for non-violent infractions; 16 suspensions of 10 days or fewer for violence; three 20-day or more suspensions for first drug offences; and one indefinite suspension for a second drug and alcohol offence, for a total of 27 suspensions. There were 25 infractions over the same period in 2016. Violent incidents include fighting, physical altercations, threats or bodily harm; verbal abuse is considered violent if it is threatening. No referrals have been sent to the board for further disciplinary action.
Receives class-size report
Superintendent Jay Yule submitted the Current and Prior Year District Summary Class Size and Composition report, which is generated by BC Ministry of Education. Average class size in School District 47 for kindergarten is 17.1 students, just below the provincial average of 18.3. For grades one to three, the average is 19.9 students compared to 22.4 provincially. Grades four through seven average 22.7 students, compared to the provincial rate of 26.3. Brooks Secondary School’s average class size of 21.8 students for grades eight through 12 is also lower than the provincial average of 23.1.
Receives curriculum delay
Correspondence received from BC minister of education Rob Fleming informed the board of directors that an additional year is being added to the revised grade 11 and 12 curriculum transition. The curriculum will come into full effect in September 2019. Under the previous Liberal government, the curriculum was to have been in place for the 2018/2019 school year. Implementation for grade 10 will begin as planned in September 2018. The new curriculum is already being used in elementary schools.
