GYPSD news
May 17 meeting Capital Projects Update
Facility Services provided their regular updates to the Board on two current capital projects in the Division: the modernization project for Grande Cache Community High School (GCCHS) and the new replacement school in Edson, Mary Bergeron Elementary.
GCCHS: A final inspection was conducted on May 2nd, 2017 to identify any deficiencies. The school has now moved into their new administration area and student gathering area. A final coat of finish was also applied to the gym floor on May 2nd and required 10 days for the finish to cure. The new entrance will not be opened to the public until the exterior concrete sidewalk is finished, dependent upon weather. Outside work will continue as weather permits as well as noted deficiencies will continue to be addressed over the next few months.
Edson: Dry walling has started on the east wing and should be completed around the end of May. The concrete slab has been poured on the west wing and rough-ins are in progress with dry-walling to start before the end of the month. The library windows are installed and the mechanical room rough-in is about 80per cent complete.
School Highlights Grande Cache
Today’s Public Board Meeting was held in the Town of Grande Cache at Grande Cache Community High School. Trustees were pleased to have staff and students from all three schools in Grande Cache start the day by sharing highlights from their school with the Board. Sheldon Coates students from Kindergarten to Grade 3 spoke about some of their school programs including the Kindness and Library teams. Three students from Summitview Middle School presented on their new mentorship project, and students from the high school shared information on their leadership initiatives. Trustees also enjoyed a student demonstration that won three students a bronze medal at the recent provincial Skills Canada competition.
The school council president from Sheldon Coates also shared some of the parents’ initiatives at their school this year, and Yvonne Rempel from Alberta Health Services provided an overview about a community cancer prevention initiative project that ends in March 2018.
Other News in Brief
• Deputy Superintendent Ewen Murray provided a report on the instructional minutes scheduled for each school for the 2017-18 school year including start times and lunch hour breaks.
• For the 2016-17 school year, the Division assessed approximately
$357,000 in instructional material fees: $70 for students ECS to Grade 6; $80 for Grades 7-9; $95 for Grades 10-12, and a family maximum of $245. As per Bill 1, these fees will not be charged to parents for the upcoming school year. • Karen Shipka, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, spoke about some of the community engagement initiatives that took place over the past year in support of the Division’s Three Year Education Plan 2016-19/ Annual Education Results Report 2015-16, and the Board’s Annual Communications Plan. She also shared the new engagement framework that was developed in the fall to assist the Division’s various activities.
• Trustees approved a subcommittee whose purpose will be the recruitment for a new Superintendent of Schools for the division effective September 1, 2017. Superintendent Gray announced his retirement at the beginning of May.