PEI Home and School Federation Semi-Annual Meeting

The 2012 Semi-Annual meeting of the PEI Home and School Federation, wherein the federation gathers to conduct business and hear responses to resolutions passed at the previous Annual Meeting.

Transcript

1. Semi-Annual Meeting October 30, 2012 Kinkora, PEI
2. Meeting Agenda • 5:30 – Registration • 5:45 – Welcome and Reception • 6:30 – Business Session 1. Call business meeting to order 2. Adoption of Agenda 2012 3. Adoption of Semi-Annual Minutes 2011 4. Treasurer's Report 5. President's Report 6. New Business 7. Adjournment • 6:55 – SHAPES-PEI Youth Health Survey • 7:20 – Resolution Discussion • 8:30 – Adjournment
3. Adoption of Agenda (Copy included in your package)
4. Adoption of 2011 Minutes (Copy included in your package)
5. Treasurer’s Report (Copy included in your package) Total Revenue: $76,808.79 Total Expenses: $45,538.39 Net Income: $31,270.40
6. Total YTD Revenue: $76,808.79
7. Total YTD Expenses: $45,538.39
8. President’s Report (Copy included in your package) • Training Workshops • School Calendar Committee • Dr. Avis Glaze • Parent Engagement Survey and Grants • English Language School Board • PEI Teachers’ Federation Convention • Atlantic Caucus Meeting • 60th Anniversary • Teacher-Staff Appreciation Week • Website
9. New Business
10. Adjournment
11. SHAPES-PEI Youth Health Survey Grades 5-12 Report Sterling Carruthers, Healthy Schools Specialist Dr. Donna Murnaghan, UPEI
12. Resolutions Responses from Department and Boards
13. Request the Government of PEI to Investigate and Implement School Efficiencies THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests that the Province of PEI work in partnership with the other Atlantic Provinces identify areas of efficiencies that may be effective in generating financial savings and operational improvement within the education system; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that these savings and improvements shall include, but not be limited to: consolidation of various services and/or operations, coordinated purchasing to obtain savings through economies of scale, and a thorough review of the Education Budget in conjunction with an annual performance audit.
14. Request the Government of PEI to Investigate and Implement School Efficiencies Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development The Department is always looking for ways to reduce our expenditures so that we can reinvest efficiencies back into strategies which will improve student achievement. We presently collaborate with other Atlantic provinces on a number of initiatives including tenders for busses, computer technology purchases, video library products and curriculum development. The Council of Atlantic Ministers of Education and Training (CAMET), a regional partnership on Ministers of Education in Atlantic Canada, is currently in the process of looking at other efficiencies in purchasing education materials and supplies. In addition, Government’s recent decision to amaîgamate the English boards will reduce administrative costs and allow for a more aligned approach for service delivery, reduce duplication, improve efñciencies and role clarity. English Language School Board This resolution requests direct action by the Province of Prince Edward Island.
15. Rename the Capital Budget Line Item for Information Technology THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development move to relabel this line item in future capital budgets to “Computers and Information Technology”.
16. Rename the Capital Budget Line Item for Information Technology Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development Thank you for this recommendation and I will ask my staff to make a request to have this capital line budget name changed. English Language School Board This resolution requests direct action by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
17. Restore Capital Funding for Information Technology THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development move to restore the capital budget for the information technology for the 2012-2013 year, and take steps to further increase this budget in future years so as to adequately outfit Island schools sufficient to meet the infrastructure needs laid out by Minister’s IT Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology.
18. Restore Capital Funding for Information Technology Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development The Department is presently working with Information Technology Shared Services Division of Finance, Energy, and Municipal Affairs to identify gaps in the education network and will be preparing a request for additional funding for September 2012 to upgrade the system. We continue to work on the recommendations as suggested by the Minister's Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology and I am happy to report that within the next 12 months we hope to be completing part of Recommendation 1, Priority 2 of having at a minimum, LCD devices for all grades on PEI. While recognized by the Advisory Committee as priority 3 after teacher training etc, we are focusing our priority on our infrastructure including network, bandwidth and storage needs We believe that in order to take advantage of the teaching opportunities available we will need a robust network which will give us the ability to advance in this area. English Language School Board This resolution requests direct action by the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
19. Simplification of the Acceptable Use Policy THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development replace the current “Minister’s Directive for the Acceptable Use Communication and Information Technology,” with a simple statement, to be signed by students and affirmed by parents: I agree to use computers, the Internet and related resources in a manner that will not be contrary to school or school district policy. I will respect these resources, and therefore agree no to be involved in any inappropriate activities or visit any websites that are not approved by the school or the school district.”
20. Simplification of the Acceptable Use Policy Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development The acceptable use policy was actually developed by a subcommittee of the Minister's Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology which includes a representative from PEI Home and School. lt is my understanding that the committee considered a number of factors including risk, legal issues and the protection of our vulnerable population in developing the policy. The computer and information access can be a very dangerous process, and I believe the document adds clarity to the expectations o the users and should not be left to common sense of impressionable users to determine the suitability of their access. English Language School Board The Eastern School District ~ Western School Board staff was involved in the development and revision of the current ‘Acceptable Use Agreement’ (AUA). The Board position is that the current AUA is required to clearly outline to students and parents the expectations and to manage the liability and risk of the use of computers in our schools. The Board does support the revision of the AUA using plain language to ensure it is easily understood.
21. Enhance and Affirm the Responsibility of The Minister's IT Advisory Committee on CIT THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development reaffirm the responsibility of the Minister’s IT Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology to provide the Minister with systematic, deliberative advice, and that the Committee’s counsel be factored into future decisions about information technology planning and spending in the province.
22. Enhance and Affirm the Responsibility of The Minister's IT Advisory Committee on CIT Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development The Minister's IT Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology is a very unique committee in that it is made up of many different stakeholders from the Education system from School Boards, the Department, Teachers’ Federation, parents, and Home and School. It provides very valuable and compressive recommendations to myself and the Department in order to advance our communication and information technology possibilities. There has been considerable work completed by this committee including the document “Continuing Our Journey in the 21st Century Learning” and the Acceptable Use Policy on Communication and Information Technology. I certainly wish to affirm the importance of this committee, and look forward to working with them in the future. English Language School Board The Eastern School District ~ Western School Board staff are members of the Minister’s Advisory Committee on CIT at the request of the Minister. The Board fully supports the Minister using recommendations from this committee for future decisions about information technology planning and spending in the province.
23. The Importance of Information Technology Resources in the Home THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF requests the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development take steps to: 1. To establish a baseline initial survey and then regularly survey parents on the availability of computers and Internet access in the home, 2. Provide the results of the survey to the Minister’s IT Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology and directly to parents and educators, 3. Request the Minister’s IT Advisory Committee on Computer Information Technology develop guidelines, based on the results of the survey, as to what can reasonably be expected of parents and students as regards technology in the home, 4. Take steps to address the “digital divide” between homes with technology, network access and expertise and homes without, ensuring that all Island students have sufficient technology in their homes to allow them to meet curricular goals and expectations. 5. Community Access Sites continue to be funded so to continue to provide access for families without technology in the home.
24. The Importance of Information Technology Resources in the Home Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development As you know, we are presently concentrating our efforts on increasing our technology capabilities within the school environment. The fiscal challenges here alone do not allow for an expansion of technology resources outside our education system. I have asked my staff to look into what information is available to satisfy your request to survey technology in the home and will pass this information onto you should it be available. With respect to Community Access Sites, which is a Government of Canada initiative, it is unfortunate that federal funding has been cut to this program. The Province has also put considerable investment into having this access available to all Islanders as well. Our library system alone provides more than 125 publicly accessible computers province wide. Innovation PEI also recognizes the need to try and support this service and continues to look for ways to use existing assets in the Community Access Program system to strengthen and maintain public Internet service. English Language School Board The Eastern School District ~ Western School Board feels this resolution should be forwarded to the Minister’s Advisory Committee on CIT for their consideration and action.
25. Equity in all PEI Schools THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the PEIHSF request that the P.E.I. Department of Education and Early Childhood Development ensure all schools are equitable in all areas of school life.
26. Equity in all PEI Schools Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development While I agree with your philosophy, it is not always possible for everything to be equal at any one point in time. The age of our facilities, the size of our schools, multi-year funding models and priorities within schools are all factors which can contribute to different resource accessibility. Our objective is to work with the School Boards in their allocation of resources so that every school has the same opportunity to access lifelong learning opportunities. We certainly include the PEI Home and School as a strong and essential member of the Provincial education team, and it is teamwork that will guarantee our success. English Language School Board The Eastern School District ~ Western School Board supports equitable learning opportunities for all students. The Board allocates resources to all schools to ensure each school is able to deliver the curriculum and required programs as developed by the Department of Education. Local Home and School Association fundraising initiatives are welcome in that the funds support things such as additional library books, technology equipment, and physical education equipment. The additional books and equipment may enrich what is offered at the school, but are not required to deliver the school programs as mandated by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
27. Adjournment (Thank you. And drive safe!)