I have posted my May-June 2010 newsletter on our district website. Click here to go directly to my newsletter or here to go the main website. In my newsletter and on our website you will find updates on the Saanich School District budget for 2010/11. In a nutshell, the news is not good on the budget front. Our Board had to make reductions totaling 5% of the budget, after reducing for enrolment decline, in order to pass a balanced budget as is required by law. We remain concerned in Saanich about the levels of provincial funding being far below the levels needed to even maintain, let alone enhance, our programs and services.
That said, we are proud of what we do in Saanich. We remain fully optimistic that public schools will continue to serve children, families and communities in ways that are vibrant, engaging and in keeping with the 21st century. Diversity and excellence are alive and well, and we invite anyone to see it "live" by contacting a neighbourhood school and connecting with the principal or vice-principal to learn more.
Alongside all that is going on in schools, we have a significant activity occurring at the district level as well. As superintendent I have taken a "21st Century Learning" presentation to our secondary schools and shared it with the board and district partners. I will be using it as a conversation starter as well at a student symposium scheduled for May 27th. Our quest is to provoke dialogue around the extent to which secondary education of today is consistent with the ideals, dreams and visions that are evolving around the world in relation to engaged learning in this age of technology and global connections. We are also interested in influencing government in relation to its throne speech commitment to "modernize the education system for the 21st century."
Comments are welcome, as always, on any of these topics. And . . . how about that new web site? It is more than just better looking; it has running in behind it a much more modern and robust "web 3.0" foundation. More interactive, more current, and more dynamic - just what we need for our tech-savvy readers.
Go Habs.
Friday, May 14, 2010
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1 comment:
How did your presentation go about learning in the 21st century?
The effects of the budget cuts are already quite visible. I commend sd63 for their hard work, and their visible efforts in minimizing the effects on the students.
I love the web 3.0 new website. It's well done, well implemented too. Kudos to those involved in making it happen.
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