[Sent November 5, 2019]
President Higginson to Minister Dix:
“While most school trustees, and the school districts they represent, do not have a concern with fee paying international students being required to have and pay for medical services plan (MSP) coverage, the timing of the announcement of this policy change is highly problematic for the education sector.”
[Sent October 31, 2019]
President Higginson to Minister Fleming:
“While BCSTA remains fully committed to our position that the current funding model must be modernized, and to the jointly established guiding principles for change, we also recognize the need for individual boards to see and fully understand the impact of any changes that cabinet may authorize over the coming weeks.”
School District 71 (Comox Valley) is the first district in Canada to sign-on with the Downie-Wenjack Legacy Schools Program. The Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF) Legacy School program is a national initiative to engage, empower and connect students and educators to further reconciliation through awareness, education and action (reconciliACTION).
Continue Reading “Comox Valley Schools are Putting Reconciliation in Education District-Wide”
October is traditionally a busy month for the British Columbia School Trustees Association’s membership, with several events sprinkled throughout the month every year. The re-opening of schools after a short summer holiday are now memories as the real work begins, signaled by the arrival of autumn.
Continue Reading “Meetings, Motions and Shared Concerns on Vaping Dominate October”
Interacting with nature boosts mental health, and School District 47 (Powell River) is investing in getting students in the woods, on the water and in the garden.
Continue Reading “How Powell River is Utilizing Nature to Improve Mental Health”
What should districts know about Focused Education Resources?
Focused Education Resources (FocusED) is a new not-for-profit organization created to support excellence in K-12 education in British Columbia. We provide support and build capacity for school districts, independent and First Nations schools, other stakeholders and partners, and ultimately students.
Continue Reading “Meet Kelly Pollack, Executive Director of Focused Education Resources”
BCSTA’s board of directors is deeply disappointed that Premier François Legault’s government has invoked closure on Bill 40 to abolish boards of education in Quebec. Bill 40 removes local representation and accountability from Quebec’s public-school system, leaving students and their caregivers without representation at their local school.
Continue Reading “BCSTA Responds to Quebec’s Elimination of Boards of Education”
[Vancouver, BC – September 26 2019] An updated agreement between the Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) and the BC School Trustees Association (BCSTA) was signed at UBCM’s annual convention in Vancouver today. The protocol outlines areas of common interest for both organizations, and commits both parties to a collaborative, cooperative relationship.
Uy’skweyul. It is my pleasure to re-introduce our monthly newsletters for the 2019/20 school year. Each month through the school year, The Education Leader will highlight stories related to public education in BC.
September 30 is Orange Shirt Day, a day to recognize and remember the damage caused by Canada’s residential school system. Orange Shirt Day began in Williams Lake BC. The event is based on the story of Phyllis Jack Webstad, who attended the St. Joseph Mission Indian Residential School in 1973.
