September Newsletter - Back to School, Budget, H1N1 and More

We are back in session as of September 8th, and as we welcome students and families we remember how proud we are to be part of a public education system that has so many successes to celebrate. We are also deliberate and strategic about how we face our challenges, some of which are captured in my September newsletter. Although the provincial budget protected the core operating grants for school districts, other cuts will have real impacts on our day to day operations this year, including the loss of the annual facilities grant. You can read about the loss of the AFG and more by checking the BCSTA (school trustees) website. You will also see in the September newsletter, as well as on our district website, updates on how we are preparing for any possibility of H1N1 influenza. As usual, feel free to post comments here. I am interested to know what is on your mind.

Excited to be Back

Welcome to September everyone. I will post a newsletter in the coming days with updates on everything from our enrolment (higher than expected) to the budget (lower than expected) and H1N1 (we're ready, but hoping it will be less than expected).

In the meantime, please know that we are excited and optimistic about the year. Please comment here if there is anything that you would like to know as we enter the 09/10 year, or if there is just anything you'd like to air.

Looking forward,

Keven

Into the Summer

Thank you, everyone, for another great year in Saanich. 2008/09 brought many successes, some of which I have noted in my June newsletter, not the least of which was the way we came together as a community to deal with our budget challenge for 2009/10. Even with the reductions, we are looking forward to another great year for public education in Saanich and across the province as a whole.

We are also interested to see the emergence, at least informally, of a province-wide dialogue about funding. People are wondering about funding levels, the mandate for public education (does it match the funding?) and the potential for some efficiencies to be found system-wide. I look forward to hearing more about that as we move into the fall. Meanwhile, I wish all of you the best possible summer and a great start to the new school year.

So Much to Celebrate

As we head into grad season I just want to comment how proud I am to be an educator in the Saanich School District. Our graduation ceremonies that are held every June serve as reminders of the many successes that our students have had during their years in school. We are also reminded of the bright futures that lie ahead for our grads and, thankfully, for society as these fine young people move off into the world. Public education is thriving in the 21st Century and much of that credit goes to the families who continue to be positively involved in their schools and to the teachers, support staff and administrators who go beyond the call of duty every day to make children's experiences rich and relevant. Thanks to you all, and best wishes to our grads. For those who are not yet done, even if you are of an age where you feel that you should be, stay true to your plans and allow us to keep working with you in whatever way best suits your life circumstance. It is worth the effort, and so are you.

Budget Passed in SD 63 Saanich

The Board of Education passed its 2009/10 budget at its public meeting of May 6, 2009. It incorporates $3.6 million of reductions, some of which was managed through enhancing revenue from distance and international education, but the large majority of which came from actual cuts. You can check the details by going to our website, or go directly to the complete list of reductions here, and the Board's media release here.

One thing to make clear is that Saanich remains a first-rate school district within a first-rate public education system . At the same time, we have to realize that we are $3.6 million short of being able to do next year what we are doing this year. Credit goes to the Board of Education for keeping those reductions as far from the classroom as possible, but we will certainly need to call on the considerable good will that exists among our employees, parents, students and community partners to minimize the impact of these significant reductions.

April/May Newsletter - Memorials, Successes, Budget and Early Learning

If you are interested in having a look at my April/May newsletter, click here. I have listed a number of district successes ranging from our 700 grade six students cleaning up the beaches on Earth Day to Lochside Elementary School hosting a showcase event to celebrate their very successful Scientists in Residence program held through April. You will also see in the newsletter tributes to Marika Townshend and Doug Carswell as well as an overview of the Board's budget deliberation. Early learning is also featured, with reference to the BC School Superintendents Association spring forum that featured brilliant insights from people such as Stuart Shanker, and that brought school and early learning partners together from across the province. Click here for a link to the BCSSA website to see more.

Remembering Marika

As many of you who read this blog will know, we lost a very special person on April 23, 2009. Trustee Marika Townshend, who had served on the Board of Education in Saanich since 1999, was taken by cancer, but her spirit will carry on in all of us for years to come. Marika cared deeply about public education, and extended her Trustee work by serving in many other official capacities (Vancouver Island School Trustees Association, Vancouver Island Labour Relations Council, BC Public School Employers Association, and more). She served the community of North Saanich and the citizens of the entire Saanich School District with passion and commitment, including right up to our last Board meeting on April 8. Marika knew, was known by, loved, and was loved by innumerable people, and we will miss everything about her. Please feel free to post a comment here so that we can together remember this special person.