RAMPAC Meeting

Mt. Doug School Library

Wed. May 17, 2006, 7:00

In attendance:

 

Keith McCallion, Lindy England, Candice Hughes, Bill Hampton, Debbie Ibaraki, Lance Turner, Marla Turner, Phil Ferrara, Jan Ross, Tony Goodman, Milan Shah, Carla Stewart, John Fawcett, Rob House.

 

Regrets: Sean Cownden, Lori Downey

 

  1. Call to Order - Tony Goodman
    • Meeting called to order at 7:10 p.m.
    • Agenda, sign in sheet, and attachments circulated.

 

  1. Leadership Report - Milan Shah

April 18 Dance a success. Over 400 students attended. Mt Doug students well behaved. Next dance no guests from outside the school. Elections for student leadership were held: Julie Laliberte to be new president. Staff luncheon last week was well received. Other successes: Fine Arts Festival, Rambucks. Upcoming: BBQ. Leaderships is winding down activities for this year.

 

  1. Administration Report - Keith McCallion
    • Bill 33 update:

1.      Class Size - Max 30. Only up to 3 identified per class. Note that some classes (Math Essentials, Communications) may continue to load more than 3, but on consultation with teacher, SPC (meeting between Sept 5 and 15) and admin. Superintendent and Board must have received school class size and composition reports for approval by Oct 15.

2.      VCPAC resolution forthcoming: remove the composition limit of 3 identified students. Issue around discrimination.

3.      Mt Doug has 40-50 identified students. School population for next year stands at 1004.

    • Staffing: Loss of two teaching positions and two retirements. Will be filling for Spanish and Resource Room. Cupe Staff also reduced. Karen Brown will retire.
    • Celebrations: Music performance May 16, Euclid Math Contest, 42nd Street, Festival of the Arts. Regarding Festival Keith heard people say things like, "the performing arts centre was just a dream, but now I can really see it happening."
    • School Calendar for next year. PAC meetings to remain 3rd Wednesday of the month.
    • Welcome to John Fawcett: Glad to be back! Coming from 2 years as principal at Quadra Elementary, where they are celebrating the completion of a big arts project involving an artist in residence and many of the community. Interests and goals: Literacy and Numeracy. We all have disabilities. We just learn our own workarounds. Music and the arts. John is excited to come back!

 

  1. Teacher Association Presentation - Phil Ferrara
    • BCTF has passed a resolution to boycott the School Planning Council.
    • Teachers and all staff at Mount Doug do an excellent job. There is a long tradition of communication and cooperation between the parent groups and teachers at the school. While the SPC will not have a teacher representative, options to continue communication include having John Fawcett represent interests and issues to both parties, and having a regular spot on the PAC agenda for teacher presentations and attendance.

 

  1. Chair 's report - Tony Goodman
    • Exams issues- In a conversation with Brita Gunderson Bryden, director of exams at the Ministry of Education, Tony presented and received responses to 2 key issues

1.      Perception of unfairness on multiple forms of exam. There is more fairness since teacher/markers can evaluate and change exam scaling, which was not the case across exams when they had different forms in the different exam sessions over the course of the year. That is, in the past, five different exams were given for the different exam periods, but there was no way to calculate scaling across those exams for the purposes of equal distributions of grades and scholarship scores. Now the different forms used at the same time means that exam scaling can happen for the benefit of all.

2.      Teacher access to exams. Past good practice was for teachers to collect and develop test banks of old exam questions which they would use in class with students. The new rules do not allow teachers to keep and use the questions. But some teachers are continuing to do this good instructional practice. It creates an unfair advantage. But in an academic atmosphere, teachers will still feel the pressure to help students in what ways they can. Brita did not have a response to this issue other than to say it will take a period of education.

 

    • Process review for executive nominations and AGM. With several people stepping down from current executive positions (President, Secretary, Bingo). Marla suggested a nominating committee. She will draft an email to send out, and we will use the group mail out to inform parents of the AGM in Sept and of our need for people to volunteer. Tony will also form a motion for presentation at that time to move the AGM to May, which will allow for a PAC executive to be set for the next school year.
    • There will be a celebratory PAC meeting on June 21. We will invite PAC members from the Middle Schools as well. Jan and Marla will contact the other PACs.
    • Tony asked Keith to verify the need for the library PAC sponsored photo-copier. Does this machine fulfill a useful role in the school?

 

  1. Communication Report - Candice Hughes
    • Excellent attendance and feedback for the Festival of the Arts. Great follow up in the form of letters of support.

 

  1. Treasurer's Report - Lindy England
    • Funding well ordered. PAC has $800 left. Outstanding work!
    • Some small claims to come from PAC members for expenses.
    • Performing Arts cancellation means we can put on another show. Likely Max-i-mime.

 

  1. Emergency Preparedness - Carla Stewart
    • Many thanks to Carla for spearheading and leading the new kiosk placement. We have some funds left. Carla will purchase water. The current stock is enough food and water for 1 day. We aim for 3-5 days. Also the Deputy Fire Chief has offered to design how the kiosk should be laid out. Carla will organize a team to move contents from the small kiosk to the new one. Remember that we need to organize for keys. Options for locations: fire hall, office, locking numeric key box on the kiosk, with the number located in emergency procedures section of the staff handbook, neighbors.

 

  1. Volunteer and fundraising items - Debbie Ibaraki
    • Always the same people out to volunteer. We should be more direct in asking for help.
    • The outside community sees Mount Doug as one entity, but it is many smaller communities, each with their own goals.
    • We should get reports back from the groups we give money to.
    • We should ask- through teacher sponsors and through the email mail outs for volunteers for the various projects.

 

  1. Bingo - Jan Ross
    • Many thanks to Jan for her support over three years as our rep.
    • The hours have been changed to 6-8 pm. Jan 's job makes it impossible for her to continue.
    • Thanks to Marla Turner for offering to take over the position.
    • We need 2 volunteers (plus 2 backups) for each session.
    • We will ask the major beneficiaries, in particular, the athletics department, to provide volunteers.
    • Remember that we must display the Bingo Bingo support logo at all events.
    • Remember that we must provide records of volunteer service to represent at least 75% more of the time that we serve at the Bingo hall, meaning we account for an additional 120 volunteer hours. We don 't have this year 's tally. Candice immediately made a first sheet for the Fashion Show. Rob and Keith will organize for Basketball. Candice (?) will organize for 42nd Street.

 

  1. Fundraising - Bill Hampton
    • Thrifty 's Smile Card is reviewing process. Other groups need to apply in fall.

 

  1. Next Meeting
    • Wed. June 21, 7:00 p.m. Bring a contribution to the celebration.

 

  1. Meeting adjourned - 10:00 p.m.