Trustees with Prairie South School Division held their annual operational meeting on Sept. 6, where they established the repayment rates for activities such as travel, meals and meeting attendance.
The first order of business was to elect a chair and vice-chair. Trustees re-elected Giselle Wilson as chair and Darcy Pryor as vice-chair.
Board remuneration rates
For the 2022-23 fiscal year, trustee remuneration — repayment — for attending board meetings and performing duties and activities within the school division will be $1,389.50 per month for members, $1,466.75 per month for the vice-chair and $1,544 per month for the chair.
Missed meetings
Trustees may miss one regular board meeting or committee of the whole planning and in-service session yearly without losing pay. If trustees miss more than one day, they shall lose $150 for every half-day meeting missed. The exception is if meetings are re-scheduled after the board approves the yearly agenda.
Outside travel
Trustee remuneration for attending functions, meetings and other activities outside the division not directly related to Prairie South meetings — in-person or virtual — will be paid $30 per hour up to a maximum rate of $200 per day per member, $225 per day for the vice-chair and $250 per day for the chair.
A minimum charge of one hour for attending meetings is allowed unless another organization already compensates the trustee.
Travel expenses
The division will pay trustees 20 cents per kilometre for any travel inside the school division.
Meanwhile, the division will pay all staff 50 cents per kilometre for mileage throughout Prairie South for those who use personal vehicles for work.
Professional development
Trustees will receive an annual allowance for professional development of $4,500 per person, with any unused amount carried forward to a maximum balance of one year’s allocation.
The funds cannot be used for public section executive meetings, Saskatchewan High School Athletics Association meetings, Saskatchewan School Boards Association’s (SSBA) fall assembly and AGM and board chairs’ council meetings.
Mileage and travel costs will be calculated assuming trustees depart from Moose Jaw or nearer.
Meal coverage
The division will pay trustees and other staff $10 for breakfast, $18 for lunch and $23 for supper if they attend an event.
Parking
The parking expense rate will be $5 per day without a receipt, or the division will cover “actual reasonable costs” if staff and trustees have a receipt.
Accommodations
The rate to cover accommodation expenses will be either actual reasonable costs supported by receipts or $35 per night in a private residence outside of a home location, with no receipt required.
Board spokespeople
Board chair Giselle Wilson will communicate on behalf of trustees with the media and public about governance issues, while education director Ryan Boughen will communicate on the board’s behalf with the media and public about administrative issues.
Signing authority
For the 2022-23 year, cheque signing authority for the board will be either the chair or vice-chair and either the superintendent of business or education director.
Line of credit
Trustees voted to maintain the division’s operating line of credit (LOC) with the Bank of Montreal for $15 million. The current agreement expires on Jan. 31, 2028.
The division maintains an operating line of credit as a risk management practice, a board report said. While the organization has not accessed the LOC in several years, having it in place ensures the smooth operation of the school division should there ever be a revenue disruption.
Auditor and solicitor
Deloitte LLP will continue to act as auditor through the 2023-24 school year, while McKercher LLP will continue to act as division auditor.
The next PSSD board meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 4.
