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Mission Statement:

To provide students with equitable, quality, educational opportunities in a safe, supportive environment through the efforts of a caring, professional team in cooperation with students, parents and communities.

BC Education Plan Forum Report, June, 2012

2012/2013 Budget Deliberations

Trustee Election 2011

Our Board

In Canada, education is a Provincial responsibility. Under the School Act of British Columbia, each School District is required to have a Board of School Trustees, which takes on much of the responsibility for the operation of public schools.

The Board of Trustees is elected locally and assumes the responsibility for governing the education system in a progressive and educationally sound manner. The Board is fully accountable to you, the public.

Our Board of Trustees is composed of nine trustees who were elected in November, 2011.

School District Governance
The Board’s main responsibility is to set policies for the school district. Clear, well-defined policies in all areas of school district operation are the means by which the Board gives the necessary direction to its staff — the administrators, teachers and support staff who are responsible for the operation of the school system. Trustees also deal with the school district’s operating and capital budgets and monitor the operation of education programs.

Public Board Meetings
At the first meeting in December each year, the Board elects the Chair. Public meetings are held once a month, normally on the second Tuesday of the month. The Board meets in each of the five communities at least once per year. There is a question period scheduled at each regular Board meeting. Community members are welcome to attend public meetings.

At Board meetings, school trustees debate and vote to determine a majority decision on educational issues. In order to make well-informed decisions at meetings, the Board encourages community input in a variety of ways. Ad hoc committees may be struck to consider specific issues in more detail than is possible in the course of a regular meeting. Decisions and recommendations made in Committee are presented at a regular meeting for discussion and adoption. Over the course of the school year, trustees meet with interested members of each stakeholder group, including parents, students, teachers, administrators and support staff, in order to hear their points of view directly from them. In addition, the Board encourages community members to provide their input on topics of interest. An online feedback form allows any interested group or individual communicate their views, or to give feedback to trustees on an issue before it is approved by the Board.

Board meeting agendas and minutes are available online or at the School Board office in Cranbrook.