Living Sky School Division's board covered a lot of ground in their May 25 board meeting.
Ray Kopera, chief financial officer, presented the board with the facilities and capital side of the budget, adding a more detailed budget proposal would be presented to the board at the next regular board meeting, June 8.
The budget for the facilities department, which includes capital projects, renovations and some utilities, employed several cost-saving measures, in order to meet the reduction of $1.3 million to the board's anticipated funding. The reduction was a result of the Ministry of Education's recently announced re-distribution formula, which is being used for this year only and was created to address funding inequities until the new funding model is released with next year's provincial budget.
Some of the cost-saving methods include extending the replacement plan for vehicles and telephone systems.
Big ticket items include a proposed school bus garage, to be located adjacent to the head office, as well as additions and renovations to the head office, with the total price tag estimated at $4.5 million.
The school division is also considering replacing boilers at several schools, including North Battleford Comprehensive High School.
Kopera explained that the board is focusing on big ticket items, as the Ministry only shares the cost of projects in excess of $150,000, except for roof projects, which must be a minimum of $10,000 in order to qualify for Ministry funding.
"One of the most important part of the facilities side is being able to maintain our facilities to the best of our abilities," said Kopera, adding the board's commitment to keeping up with renovations and repairs is what has given Living Sky some of the best facilities in the province.
The board indicated the need to spend any accumulated surpluses, such as the Hafford-dedicated reserve, which came with the school when it joined Living Sky.
Ken Arsenault, board chair, said the "bean counters are looking at those reserves," adding, "I think we got some very clear direction from the Ministry that those surpluses will not be viewed favourably."
However, some board members voiced their concerns with emptying the coffers.
Bob Foreman was concerned with how the money would be spent, saying, "I'm okay with taking that money and putting it towards capital projects, but I don't think it should go towards, say, paying teachers," explaining the Ministry had indicated they would fully cover teachers' salaries and the division might not see a return on their surplus spending in that case.
In other news, the board was joined by Ernie Cychmistruk, executive director of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association.
Cychmistruk is stepping down at the end of August and will be handing over the reigns to Darren McKee, assistant deputy minister in the Ministry of Education.
Board member Roy Challis, former SSBA president, credited Cychmistruk with turning around the SSBA and greatly improving the organization.
"You brought that organization from a wreck, a ship on the rocks, to what it is today," said Challis.
As for the future, Cychmistruk said he didn't have any plans at the moment.
"I'm going to retire, for the fourth time about," said Cychmistruk.
Arsenault thanked the executive director for including Living Sky in his "farewell tour," adding he wished it was like Cher's farewell tour, and there would be four or five of them.
"I don't have the wardrobe for that," laughed Cychmistruk.
The board rose to their feet to give Cychmistruk a standing ovation as he departed.
The board meeting also included a delegation from the Luseland and Lawrence school community councils, as part of their continuous agenda monitoring reports.
The board spoke of the Ministry's recent survey of SCC's and their new SCC handbook, mentioning that Living Sky School Division had already published an SCC handbook four years ago that they consider more than adequate.
Director of Education Randy Fox said, "They didn't ask them, 'What are you good at?' and 'What do you do think you do well,' and I wish they would have."
They also spoke of a Ministry presentation at a recent workshop, where the Ministry representative indicated fundraising should not be done by SCC's but rather by a third party, such as a "friends of SCC" organization.
"I couldn't believe the Ministry saying that," said board member Ron Kowalchuk.
"The guy was very adamant they shouldn't be fundraising," said Challis.
Fox recounted an SCC fundraising to supply parents with a developmental yardstick, an informational tool, and the excitement they displayed at having done so.
Fox said it doesn't state anywhere that SCC's can't fundraise, and that he would support fundraising, as long as it was for a specific cause, such as the developmental yardsticks, school supplies or field trips, and not just to build up funds.
"We try to be open," said Fox. "If ideas are turned down, then enthusiasm dies."
