The following is a summary of motions carried by the School District No. 5 (SD5) School Board during the January 14 meeting.

Motions Carried

THAT the Amy Woodland Elementary School catchment boundary be amended as proposed along 11^th Avenue South. This catchment boundary amendment will be effective February 1.

CHAIRPERSON’S REPORT

From the Province:

Supporting Foundry BC Services in Remote and Rural Communities:

The following excerpt was sent to the Ministers of Health, Children and Family Development, and Social Development and Poverty Reduction by BCSTA President Carolyn Broady on Wednesday, January 15, on behalf of the BCSTA’s Comprehensive School Health Working Group.

“The Foundry BC initiative is vital to inclusive and culturally appropriate mental health and wellness services for young people aged 12 to 24. As the CSHWG analyzed Foundry locations and services, we noted that many regions, predominantly rural and remote areas, are disproportionately lacking in these essential services. The gap in services not only undermines the support available to vulnerable youth but also exacerbates existing disparities in mental health outcomes across our province.”

Link to the full article.

From the District

 In the Public Meeting the following items of note were discussed:

• Following a consultation meeting held in the Grasmere community in the fall an ask was made that the school grounds on the Grasmere Elementary site be used by the community for a disc golf course. The request was granted, and we look forward to the recreational opportunity this creates for families in Grasmere.
• As indicated in the December report, there is a new Minister of Education and Child Care, and a ministry created to support coordination of infrastructure. The board has prepared an invitation to both ministers to visit our district and an opportunity for SD5 to share the unique challenges of our urban-rural district.
• Starting in February of each year, considerable work is done to prepare a budget for the following year. The initial, and important step, is to establish the enrollment for each school as part of the funding process for the district as funding for each school is determined by the number of students enrolled, and their unique needs.
• As there has been a disruption in catchment areas in Cranbrook following the closure of the physical space of Amy Woodland Elementary School, community consultation and a survey was used to guide the boundary changes for 2025-26. Notification to parents was send out and clarification on the processes the district will be using to guide specific parent requests.

Ongoing work

• District of Elkford Official Community Plan – SD5 was successful in securing Crown Land for the purposes of building additional living spaces for prospective new staff and day care for the community. The next steps will be working with the District of Elkford to ensure that the zoning of the site will support this intention.
• Fernie Elementary School – Work with the contracted services of Barry Architects continues. Most recently, several schools in Red Deer were visited to determine elements of design which support education, now and into the future. Discussions took place with the community of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it (formerly Tobacco Plains) to ensure that considerations be given to Indigenous Learners and Indigenous Concepts.
• Guide to Parents – Additional information on how parents may request placement for their students in schools –other than the recent assignment information—will be developed and posted on the website.

Upcoming dates of note:

January 24 –Yellow Day – Schools not in session;

January 27 –Semester Change – Middle and Secondary Schools;

February 14 –Yellow Day – Schools not in session;

February 17 –Statutory Holiday (Family Day);

February 28 –Professional Development Day.

e-KNOW file photos

SD5

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