President's Message
Our minds turn at this time of year to so many things, including support for our friends and colleagues who are facing life challenges, unfettered respect for so many people who are managing to find high ground in the midst of some rather difficult budget deliberations, and admiration and regard for our colleagues who are heading into retirement. On the latter, please let me join the chorus of accolades heard around the province for our retirees and we look forward to honouring them at the April 16th celebration dinner.
I want to let you know that when asked on your behalf for BCSSA comments in relation to budget I am saying three things:
- As superintendents and district leaders we appreciate that government provided the funding for 2009/10 that they promised one year ago, even while the global economic downturn created substantial fiscal challenges for government.
- Even with the relative funding increases (on a per pupil basis), there are many districts facing structural shortfalls due to costs increasing at a greater rate than those increases would allow.
- We are hopeful that there will be a chance for partner groups and the Ministry and government to have a focused dialogue about the funding model as we move into and beyond 2009/10.
I hope that meets with your favour and know that you will tell me if that is not the case.
As you know I have the privilege of representing you on the Education Advisory Council, chaired by Deputy Minister James Gorman and consisting of representatives from all groups or associations that have an interest in education. The very long list of participants includes BCSSA, BCSTA, BCCPAC, BCTF, BCPVPA, CUPE, BCASBO, ABCDE, FNESC and more, a true litany of acronyms and a genuine gathering of people who care. We have moved to a place of greater efficacy by having EAC be ground zero for important provincial conversations about education. At the April 1, 2009 meeting Scott MacDonald from the Ministry of Education shared a wiki-site that will be used to post papers, engage in dialogue inside EAC and generate high-level dialogue beyond that group. Our part in that will include posting a background paper on assessment that we hope will be the launching point for the much-anticipated discussion about assessment, FSA and more.
Finally, I want to thank all of you who have been participating, or will do so soon, in the BCSSA discussion about influence and profile. As with any great topic we are still at the point of creating bigger questions, including what kind of profile do we want, with whom and to what end, and what kind of influence do we want, with whom and to what end. There is also the question of the effect of certain kinds of influence, such as quiet influence with government, if we get the wrong kind of profile in the media. We are also seeing the beginnings of some answers formulating and look forward to moving beyond regional conversations into the online survey and a full review during the summer academy in Kelowna.
All the best to you all, and thanks for doing what you do for children, families and communities.
– Keven Elder, BCSSA President
Keven Elder appeared on Global news on Tuesday, March 31 to discuss the budget challenges schools are facing for 2009/2010. Download video here:
 Windows Media format
 Quicktime format
Spring Forum 2009 – register TODAY, time is limited!
Join us to collaboratively examine important international and national Early Learning trends and issues. BCSSA has an impressive list of presenters including Jane Beach, Jane Bertrand, Charles Coffey, Janet Mort and Stuart Shanker.
Registration
Conference registration includes plenary and concurrent sessions, as well as breakfast and lunch on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18.
Individual 2-day rate $414.75 ($395.00 plus $19.75 gst)
Team (5 or more people) 2-day rate $367.50 per person ($350 plus $17.50 gst)
Individual Saturday-only rate $204.75 ($195.00 plus 9.75 gst)
Only five or more people from the same organization registering can receive the team discount. If the team becomes less that five due to one or more cancellations, the registration reverts to the original per registrant cost of $395.00.
Retirement and Awards Dinner 2009 – Spots still available!
The Retirement & Awards Dinner is always a well attended event: a time to honour the retirees of 2008/2009, congratulate the winners of the Award(s) of Recognition and Distinguished Service Award(s), and celebrate with friends and colleagues past and present. The dinner will be held on Thursday, April 16, “The Roof” at the Hotel Vancouver.
Click here to register online
2009 Distinguished Service Award Recipients
Jacquie Taylor, Superintendent of Literacy and Lifelong Learning
Juleen McElgunn, Superintendent of Schools, SD 53 Okanagan Similkameen
Award of Recognition Recipient
Vancouver Giants – Read to Succeed Program
2008/2009 Retirees
Robin Brayne – SD 44 North Vancouver, Former Superintendent
Rosemary Burns – Yukon School District, Superintendent
Pat Cassidy – Yukon School District, Director of Programs and Services
Randy Cranston – SD 42 Maple Ridge, Assistant Superintendent
Gary Doi – SD 67 Okanagan-Skaha, Superintendent
Christine Foster – SD 82 Coast Mountains, Assistant Superintendent
Brian Fox – SD 62 Sooke, Superintendent
Jo-Anne Legree – SD 83 North Okanagan Shuswap, Director of HR
Jim Martens – SD 38 Richmond, Assistant Superintendent
Des Mckay – SD 34 Abbotsford, Superintendent
Sean McKierahan – SD 69 Qualicum, Assistant Superintendent
Dave Mumford – SD 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Assistant Superintendent
John Phipps – SD 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith, Assistant Superintendent
Byron Robbie – SD 58 Nicola-Similkameen, Superintendent
Bernadette Rymer – SD 74 Gold Trail, AVID/Community Services
Garth Schafer – SD 67 Okanagan-Skaha, Director of Instruction
Jacquie Taylor – Ministry of Education, Superintendent of Literacy and Lifelong Learning
Marion Turner – Ministry of Education, Superintendent, Student Achievement
Stan Watchorn – SD 33 Chilliwack, Director of Instruction
John White – SD 41 Burnaby, Director of Instruction
Richard Zigler – SD 83 North Okanagan Shuswap, Director
Please join us to congratulate the achievements of the 2008/2009 retirees.
PPP and New Members Sessions – April 16, Fairmont Vancouver
New Members Program
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Gabriola Room
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
The topic will be “Working Successfully with Boards of Education”.
Lunch will take place at 12 pm in the Cortes Island Room. It is a shared lunch with Partners for Professional Practice attendees and members of the ProD Committee.
Partners for Professional Practice
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Galiano Room
Thursday, April 16, 2009, 12.00 pm – 4.00 pm
The session will be dealing with a number of topics including current issues and elements of good governance.
Lunch will take place at 12 pm in the Cortes Island Room. It is a shared lunch with New Members and members of the ProD Committee.
Should you need assistance or have any further questions, please contact Doreen Schieweck at
604-687-0590 or via email to dschieweck@bcssa.org.
Grade 12 Essay Scholarship and Grades 6-12 Technology Scholarships
Time is running out for prospective students interested in this year’s BCSSA scholarships. Please distribute to the appropriate people within your district. The opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship, or an Apple MacBook is still available!
Visit our website for further details.
Grade 12 Essay Scholarship entry flyer
English flyer
French flyer
Grades 6-12 Technology Scholarship – Judges needed!
 We are in need of one to two judges with experience in technology for each grade level category. Adjudication will take no longer than half an hour of your time and we would be greatly appreciative for your contribution and input!
The Technology Scholarship recognizes outstanding achievement in technology-based learning and over the years, students have amazed us with what they can accomplish with this project.
If you are interested in adjudication, please contact Stephanie Cardwell, Communications Assistant at stephcardwell@bcssa.org.
About
Mission: Student Vote is a non-profit, non-partisan organization working with educators to engage young Canadians in the democratic process.
Vision: Young Canadians ready, willing and able to participate in their democracy.
Check out the website at http://www.studentvote.ca/who.html
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