A.L. Fortune Principal Mark Marino presented the A.L. Fortune School Learning Plan to the trustees, describing it as a work in progress requiring continued consultation and conversations. He emphasized the importance of consulting, conversing, and analyzing data to determine and drive the school goals, stating, "It is hard to come up with meaningful goals without data." Marino highlighted the collection and analysis of Ministry data, District data, survey data, and school data, such as school-wide writing assessments and graduation results. The disruption caused by COVID-19 affected baseline data, particularly as students did not write assessments during that time.

Within the strategic priority of intellectual development, the goals include improving student writing across all grade levels and improving foundational math skills and problem-solving. Marino explained that after analyzing the data, it was evident that writing was a weakness, particularly at the junior grades. This analysis showed the need for improvement in this area and will be a key focus area moving forward.

Under the strategic priority of student well-being and sense of belonging, Marino explained that the goals were to improve school connections within the school and community, and to improve student personal well-being within a safe, inclusive, caring, and accepting environment for all students. He shared graphs showing overall participation in the student learning survey, the percentage of Grade 10 students who feel connected to adults in their school, and the percentages of students participating in school sports and involved in an elective music block.

Goals were set within the strategic priority of career development to improve student transitions to post-secondary education for all students and improve the six-year graduation rate. Marino presented data, including survey results about students' perceptions of school preparing them for future jobs, the school's six-year graduation rate (83 percent in 2021-2022), and the numbers of students involved in career programs at the school.

Following Marino's presentation, Prince commended the diverse data sets and the information on A.L. Fortune's rich career and music programs, acknowledging the effort put into reaching this point.

Kriger highlighted the importance of aligning research based best practice within classrooms to the School Learning Plan, District Strategic Plan, and Ministry Orders. "I absolutely appreciate that teachers can maintain autonomy within their classrooms while utilizing the resources and high impact strategies which are adopted by the District," expressed Kriger.

In January, the City of Salmon Arm and the Shuswap Trail Alliance presented to the Board, asking for a letter of support for its application to the Agriculture Land Commission to establish a trail along agricultural land from Little Mountain Park to Haney Heritage Park. The proposed trail would allow pedestrian access to the Haney Heritage Park and Museum, which might be of particular interest to schools in the area. The proposed trail would include the establishment of a right-of-way over an existing easement on private property along the parcel boundary directly west of Haney Park within the ALR. This trail is part of the Salmon Arm Greenways Strategy in the City of Salmon Arm's Official Community Plan, with the goal of physically linking Haney Heritage Park east of Salmon Arm to the evolving Neskonlith Village at the mouth of the Salmon River, west of Salmon Arm.

During the March 12, 2024, meeting, Trustee Marianne VanBuskirk, who toured the proposed trail with Secretary-Treasurer Dale Culler, noted the beauty of the property but highlighted that neighbours are not in favour of the trail and there is a pond along the trail that can be up to 15 feet deep at times. VanBuskirk expressed, "I know Shuswap Trail Alliance always does a great job but my personal opinion is that I don't think the School District should get involved."

Trustee Tennile Lachmuth suggested that the School District stay "in our own lane" and only comment on the educational factors and benefits of the trail. "All it is, is a request for us to support the trail. The Agriculture Land Reserve (ALR) will take all sides into consideration and make the decision. I am in support of the application," stated Lachmuth.

When the vote was called, the majority voted to remain neutral.

The Board approved the 2023/24 Capital Plan Amendment after three readings. This amendment includes funding for two 76-passenger school buses, each valued at $184,649.

Unfortunately, there were delays receiving the structural steel, with the subcontractor initially stating it would arrive within two weeks; however, it ended up being three months, which disrupted all of the plans. Elwood expressed appreciation for Sawchuk's efforts to mitigate the delay. "The steel is the backbone of the entire structure."

Despite the delay, everyone worked together to complete other work to mitigate the impact. For example, specialized gravel was poured, piping and insulation were installed, and a portion of the slab was poured. The entrance way canopy on the school was removed from the site, and some other interior work which could be done at this stage was completed. They also compressed the building schedule, in ways that would not affect the outcomes, as they want a high-quality product in the end. "With this revised schedule we have agreed that work will be completed by January 3."

Board members expressed their understanding of the situation. Krebs thanked Elwood for the update, noting that while the delay is disappointing, two months is better than three. VanBuskirk added that it is challenging for the school not to have a gym and that they are eagerly anticipating its completion.

Assistant Superintendent Human Resources Michelle Guillou and Director of Instruction Gillian Dawe-Taylor presented to the Board on the processes followed to ensure safer schools for students and staff.

Guillou explained the extensive collaboration between their two departments in addressing student and staff safety, outlining the federal and provincial regulations and requirements. The District the develops manuals, flow charts, and guides to assist staff in interpreting these regulations and requirements within the context of SD83 schools and workplaces.

Dawe-Taylor and Guillou explained the procedures that are followed when an incident occurs, who is all involved, and the process which is followed. This included the use of Employee Safety Plans, when it would be developed, and what it looks like in action for both staff and students. They also discussed the use of the Reportable Behaviour Form and the associated steps.

Dawe-Taylor explained that the purpose of the plans is to ensure responsible and preventative practices are in place in order to identify triggers and ideally prevent or reduce incidents.

For example, Dawe-Taylor mentioned a scenario involving a non-verbal child who may tap or pinch for attention. In such cases, a plan might include providing employees with a special "cut resistant sleeve" to protect their arms. She noted that if there is an incident and a plan is developed, all individuals working with the child are informed.

Guillou shared, "When there is an incident, we try to be as responsive as possible. The forms, regulations, policies, and guides work in the background but that's not what it looks like on the ground. Response is immediate. If it involves Gillian's world then someone from her department, whenever possible, will also come out to the school with us. We care very much for our employees, when something happens in our schools we want to be out there."

Committee Chair Marianne VanBuskirk reported that the next Education Directions Committee will be on May 1, 2024.

Committee Chair Amanda Krebs noted that the next Finance and Facilities/Audit meeting is on April 4, 2024.

Committee Chair Brent Gennings reported that the Policy Committee had a lengthy meeting discussing Policy 121 - Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity. He mentioned that the policy is expected to come to the Board for a reading within the next month or two.

Trustee Tennile Lachmuth attended the virtual B.C. School Trustees' Association (BCSTA) Provincial Council meeting on February 24, 2024. She mentioned that many reports from the meeting are available in the BCSTA trustee portal. Lachmuth also mentioned that there was an interesting and well-done presentation from SD93, which is B.C.'s French School District, on how they would like to work with other Boards to make French more accessible.

Trustee Marianne VanBuskirk provided a written report on the recent Branch meeting, saying it was well-done with many interesting presentations. She highlighted a touching moment on March 1, 2024, when the meeting was opened by an Elder followed by some very talented Drummers, calling it "incredible." Information was shared from the Ministry about priority learners, including children in care, students with special needs, and Indigenous students.

Trustee Lachmuth reported that the Council meeting was a continuation of many ongoing topics, including the budget and the "How Are We Doing?" report. She also highlighted a land-based learning field trip where staff and Council members toured various sites in other school districts to collect ideas about best practices for land-based learning programs in SD83.

VanBuskirk commended the schools for the creative ways that they shared the anti-bullying and spreading kindness message in schools around Pink Shirt Day. She also reported that she attended the recent meetings of the Bastion and Hillcrest Parent Advisory Councils (PAC). VanBuskirk shared, "The parents at both are just so incredibly giving of their time. The new food box program needed volunteers to distribute the boxes and there they were. The PAC does so much." She attended the Salmon Arm and District Art Fair and thanked organizers Principal Corrinne Langston and Principal Kirsten Mazur, the school teams, and community artists for their work with the students.

A RECORDING OF THIS MEETING IS AVAILABLE ON THE DISTRICT WEBSITE BY CLICKING ON THIS LINK. Please scroll to appropriate recording.