Professional development is an important component in the education sector, which is why Moose Jaw’s public school trustees have set aside nearly $20,000 for their training sessions.
During its Sept. 7 meeting, the Prairie South School Division board approved a motion to provide an annual allotment for professional development (PD) for its members of $17,500. The funds will be distributed to cover all trustee PD expenses, as approved by the board, while mileage and travel costs will be calculated assuming that trustees depart from or near Moose Jaw.
However, PD expenses that won’t be covered include public section executive meetings, Saskatchewan High Schools Athletics Association gatherings or provincial board chairs’ council meetings.
Trustee Lew Young encouraged division administration and the board to review this funding at budget time and how it is distributed. He pointed out that the board’s PD funding has declined over the years, based on discussions he’s had with others.
The way this funding was distributed in the past was trustees received a small allotment for the year and managed it themselves, he pointed out. He thought that was a great method since they were in control of their learning.
One of the main opportunities that trustees have missed over the years has been attending conferences through the Canadian School Boards Association, Young continued. To be effective trustees, they can’t simply focus on what’s happening within the boundaries of the division, the region, the province or even Western Canada. They also need to focus on what’s happening throughout North America and even globally.
Young added that Prairie South has several new trustees and he thought it would be terrible for them not to take advantage of available opportunities.
Todd Johnson, one of those new trustees, thought that when division administration produces a report about this topic for the next budget discussion, it should also include what learning activities are available. While members can search out sessions themselves, he wanted to see what events trustees had attended previously, so he knew what was available.
School representatives
Every trustee was assigned to one or more schools throughout the division and is expected to attend school community council meetings. In Moose Jaw, this includes:
- Central Collegiate: Brett Hagan and Lew Young
- A.E. Peacock Collegiate: Todd Johnson and Mary Jukes
- Riverview Collegiate: Crystal Froese and Lew Young
- Empire School: Crystal Froese and Mary Jukes
- King George: Crystal Froese and Brett Hagan
- Palliser Heights: Todd Johnson and Lew Young
- Prince Arthur: Brett Hagan and Todd Johnson
- Sunningdale: Brett Hagan and Mary Jukes
- Westmount: Mary Jukes and Lew Young
- William Grayson: Crystal Froese and Todd Johnson
Signing authority
The board members who will have signing authority for the 2021-22 school year will be the board chair or the vice-chair and the superintendent of business or the director of education.
This year the board chair is Giselle Wilson and the vice-chair is Darcy Pryor, while Ron Purdy is the superintendent of business and Ryan Boughen is the director of education.
Line of credit
Board members approved a motion that allows Prairie South to access a line of credit for $15 million through Scotiabank. This agreement expires on Dec. 31.
“While the operating line of credit has not been accessed for several years, having it in place ensures the smooth operation of the school division in the event (of) a disruption in revenue,” said a board report.
Board spokespeople
Trustees have decided that the board chair will communicate with the media and public on governance issues, while the director of education will communicate for the board with the media and public on administrative or educational issues.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 5.
