General Meeting Minutes

Mt. Doug School Library

Wed. Feb 15, 2006, 7:00

In attendance:

Paul Thomas, Tony Goodman, Lindy England, Candice Hughes, Bill Hampton, Debbie Ibaraki, Gayle Bliss, Shaun Cownden, Grant Burson

Fund raising information received by the PAC is repetitive
Any suggestions on how to pass on fund raising info to school groups who are interested?

6 new staff members - 2 junior English, 1 PE, 1 mandarin, 1 social studies, 1 photography.
10 new blocks of instructional time added to semester 2 for core and junior classes.
Class size is about average (27); none are over 33; much time and effort was put into the timetable this year with good results - class size and schedules balanced out nicely.
Course selection for next year will happen in March; the new course guide will be posted on the website soon, with new grad requirements and portfolio info.
Student transfer starts next week; usually about 70-100 come in and 10-20 go out.
A new PORTFOLIO WEBSITE will be launched within a week as part of the Mt Doug website. It will be shown at "Meet the Teacher Night" on Feb 22, with a follow-up meeting on March 9^th.
A TECHNOLOGY PLAN has been created to develop a predictable and planned upgrading of computers in the school; computers in the main labs will be replaced every 4 years by 2 yr old computers from gov. offices; machines from main labs will then replace machines in secondary labs; a budget of $72,000 has been passed for this (includes software and staffing).
The PAC has been asked to consider an annual contribution of $5,000.

Virtual company, each working out of a home office
Finding it difficult to reach the youth (grads and recent grads) who need this information.
Have been told that there is a real need for youth to get direction for career and educational choices.
Looking for a place to offer this program - so far it hasn't worked in all the places that have been tried.

Cindy will email to parents for additional volunteers needed.
Lindy England asked as to the function of the Grad Committee; will determine from Keith who to contact for this information.

Thanks to Beth Danskin and Paul Thomas for last month's presentation of Portfolio.

Reminder will be given in April for teachers to spend or lose their money!
Agreed to fund refreshments for "Portfolio" discussion at meet the teacher night.
Motion by Deborah Ibaraki that treasurer create a small kitty of up to $75 for dispensation per situation upon agreement by 3 members of executive; seconded by Shaun Cownden. All in favour.

2 gaming licences have been acquired; raffle for basketball made $480 in profit; 50/50 for band Christmas concert made $135 and the other 50% was kindly donated back to the band from the winner; 2 50/50 draws held by the basketball group made less than $100.
A French trip/band combination raffle is being planned.
A one-time donation of $7,000 was given by the school district to Mt Doug for instruments.