1. BCSTA Education Committee Meeting & Activities Report - December 2009 Prepared by Rob Goodall, Senior Director, Education

2. December 2009 Summary Ability Academy Review Sustainability Forum Plans Full Day Kindergarten Budgeting Process Reports ESL Discussion Next Meeting

3. Ability Academy Review Pluses: –BCPSEA pre-conference workshop –Plenaries with Carla Qualtrough and Mary Ellen Turpel Lafond –Several of the concurrent sessions –Pocket guide as only handout –Student presentations Improvements –Ministry of Education forum –Cost of Internet access

4. Sustainability Forum Plans Be clear on purpose and questions Involve students in the discussion Focus on the future Present results to the Ministry Keep the scope manageable

5. Full Day Kindergarten Impact on aboriginal students and families? How will we engage everyone, make accessible to all? Will it be implemented universally? What will be the full cost of the program? Training for teachers and support staff needs attention

6. Budgeting Process Reports Most districts starting earlier Many districts holding community consultations to set priorities Some retiring administrators not replaced School calendar changes considered No more “surplus” funds available Keep paying attention to student achievement

7. ESL Discussion Moved: that the BCSTA Board consider making ESL the education topic for the education portion of the February 2010 PC meeting (Flynn, Yaremco) Carried.

8. Next Meeting Suggest the afternoon of –Sunday, April 25 and morning of Monday, April 26 –check out with members via email.