District seeks renovation funds
Powell River school board is seeking additional Ministry of Education funding for three renovations scheduled this year.
Planned works include a roof replacement for Brooks Secondary School, an electrical upgrade for James Thomson Elementary and a building envelope renewal for Kelly Creek Community School.
According to secretary-treasurer Steve Hopkins, ministry funds would come from a new funding category established to bridge the gap between capital projects, such as new schools and seismic upgrades, and renovations and facilities grants.
The school board already set aside $1,542,750 for this year’s renovations as part of their five-year capital plan.
Board says thanks
Karin Westland and Ryan Barfoot were thanked by the Powell River School District 47 board for their efforts in the Sustainable Schools Committee (SSC) at a Tuesday, October 20, meeting. The thanks come ahead of transferring their duties to Outdoor/Sustainability staff.
Founded in 2008, the SSC provided environmental education opportunities for local schools. Due to growing requirements of outdoor education, the board said they plan on forming a permanent administrative framework for the program in future.
Suspensions up
A total of 11 students were suspended from Powell River district schools this September, including five reported as violent. The figure is up from zero suspensions this time last year, and two the year before.
“One of the issues involved a whole number of students with an issue that ended up getting suspended,” according to Powell River School District 47 superintendent Jay Yule, “and that means the number of suspensions goes up.”
Board further questions report
School board members had additional words for organizers of Powell River Vital Signs report at their Tuesday, October, 20 meeting.
In particular, the use of data regarding students enrolled in English 12 was questioned as an indicator of interest in post-secondary education.
“We believe that it is important that our graduates are literate,” said board chair Jeanette Scott, “but whether those skills are applied in a communications 12 or an English 12 course is not significant.”
