School Fees in the News
BCSTA President Penny Tees speaks to ongoing school board concerns arising from the school fees ruling in today’s Vancouver Sun.
Excerpts:
"Every school board and every school is looking closely at all of the programs [where] they have been recovering costs," Penny Tees, president of the BC School Trustees Association, said in an interview. "There is concern about the long-term loss of quality educational programming."
"There are parts of the ruling that boards are quite prepared to accept ... but we don't want to lose exciting, relevant activities for students that add meaning to their educational programs," Tees said.
Based on comments from (Education Minister Shirley) Bond last month, Tees said she believes the government "shares some of our concerns" and is exploring legislative options that would allow for certain fees to be collected.
This article also ran in the Prince George Citizen and the Nanaimo Daily News.
Click here to read the article in the Vancouver Sun
Response to BCSTA from Education Minister Shirley Bond on School Fees
Education Minister Shirley Bond confirmed that Ministry of Education staff are “considering all options… including the possibility of amending existing legislation,” to address concerns arising from the school fees ruling. The minister’s letter is in response to BCSTA’s board of directors motion requesting “that government proceed quickly with measures that will have the effect of protecting education programs and allowing school boards the flexibility to provide a wide selection of course offerings responsive to the needs of their local communities.”
BCSTA staff is preparing a report, based on input from the membership at the December 2006 BCSTA Innovations Academy, summarizing the implications of the school fees ruling. This paper will be reviewed by the BCSTA Board of Directors at its January 12 meeting. Outcomes of this discussion will be provided to the Minister of Education and shared with BCSTA’s membership and as soon as possible.
The BC School Superintendent’s Association (BCSSA) is preparing similar representation. BCSTA and BCSSA staff are working collaboratively in this subject.
In addition, BCSTA is providing members with a series of confidential legal opinions on the implications of the school fees ruling on school programs and activities.
BCSTA’s letter to Education Minister Shirley Bond – November 20, 2006
Education Minister Shirley Bond’s response – December 22, 2006
ESL Forum registration begins this week
BCSTA is pleased to be hosting a one-day educational session for school trustees, educational administrators and government officials on issues concerning immigrants, refugees and students with English as a Second Language.
The forum will take place on February 9, 2007 at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Vancouver. Registration is free. Participants must pre-register by February 1, 2007.
This forum is timed to coincide with BCSTA’s February Provincial Council meeting, in the hopes that Provincial Councillors will be able to attend. All school trustees are welcome and are encouraged to invite interested educators, MLAs and MPs from their communities to attend.
Click here for more information and to register
Innovations Academy Photo Gallery
Get inspired all over again!
Click here to see action shots from the December 2006 BCSTA Innovations Academy.
Click here for Innovation Academy handouts and speakers’ notes
School Community Connections - Application Deadline Extension
School Community Connections - Application Deadline Extension Each BC School District and its municipal government partners have an opportunity to access $170,000 in planning and implementation funds through the School Community Connections (SCC) program. SCC has extended its application deadlines to April 1, 2007 for Phase 1 funding and December 1, 2007 for Phase 2 and 3 funding.