Tag

Right now, there are 15 secondary-school classes in School District 57 which are over the 30-student limit established by the School Act. Superintendent Brian Pepper says that number is higher than it has been recently, but not out of line. “It’s higher than we’ve had the past couple of semesters, but I would call it the high side of usual.” He says in some cases the class is designed so the instructor actually prefers more students. “It may be a peer helping class, or a leadership class,...

The Board of Education of School District No. 57 (Prince George) has embarked on a program to develop a shared mission, vision, core values and goals that will provide overall strategic direction for the school district over the next five years. Members of the community are invited to participate in the research component of this project. “Community engagement is important, as it will allow us to gain valuable insight into the current state of our school district and its future...

It wasn’t as bad as it looked. That was the message administration gave School District 57 trustees about the amended 2014-15 annual budget, which was presented at Tuesday’s public meeting. Looking at the basic numbers, it appeared the district would need to take another $4 million from its surplus, this after already budgaeting for a similar $3 million during initial discussions last March. “The accounting department made some changes to the way the budget was prepared,” board chairman...

The new Giscome Elementary School and adjoining East Line activity centre were officially opened Friday. Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond met with the school’s 26 kindergarten to Grade 7 students and toured the classrooms to highlight the official opening, according to a government press release. “I am very proud to help officially open the new Giscome Elementary school,” said Bond. The fate of the Giscome school was questionable going back to 2009 when a Ministry of...

It’s a partnership between the College of New Caledonia and School District 57, and a local mining group is making sure it keeps going. The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) made a $10,000 donation Monday to the Career and Technical Centre (CTC). The centre allows students in the district to take two semesters of high school and two semesters at CNC during their Grade 11 and 12 years. This allows them to finish with both Grade 12 and the first year of...

It’s a partnership between the College of New Caledonia and School District 57, and a local mining group is making sure it keeps going. The Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) made a $10,000 donation Monday to the Career and Technical Centre (CTC). The centre allows students in the district to take two semesters of high school and two semesters at CNC during their Grade 11 and 12 years. This allows them to finish with both Grade 12 and the first year of...

The new School District 57 Board of Education got down to business Tuesday night and elected a new board chair. Board newcomer Tony Cable beat out Tim Bennett in the election for chair. As the board settles in, there is a question that has dogged school boards for years: Are they necessary? Those running for office obviously feel school boards serve a vital role in the community, otherwise they likely wouldn’t have put their name forward. However, in New Brunswick, school boards have been...

One of the issues that surfaced during the School District 57 Board of Education elections was how much business the board does behind closed doors. Several of the trustee candidates, including some incumbents, complained that too much of the district’s business is done during “in camera” meetings … meetings that are closed to public scrutiny. Outgoing trustee Kate Cooke presented a lengthy dissertation about it at her last board meeting this week. No one questions the fact that the school...

The new School District 57 board of education will soon be getting down to work. With the new term comes hope, from all the new trustees, that they can get things done. Those issues are as diverse as the board itself. During the campaign, we asked candidates what their pet projects would be, if elected. Here’s what those who were elected had to say: Trish Bella: “I would be very happy to see the Ministry of Education, through collaboration with partners in rural districts, create a formal...

We asked school board trustee candidates:   Do you think the current per-pupil funding formula is adequate for School District 57? If not, how would you try to get the provincial government to increase the funding formula?