From SD#34. The first week of school appears to have proceeded mostly according to plan across the district Superintendent Kevin Godden reported to the Board. He noted that after the first week, it appeared enrolments are up slightly.
Originally, projections for this school year were set for a decline of 174 FTE students. However, the first week’s count shows while elementary numbers are still below projections, middle and secondary student numbers are above projections, resulting in an overall increase of about 25 students. Final counts to register with the Ministry of Education are made at the end of September.
Meanwhile, during the course of the summer, a number of initiatives and projects were undertaken, including:
• A seismic upgrade of Aberdeen Elementary, with work on classrooms completed over the summer months to minimize the disruption for the school year start. Other associated seismic work is to be completed by December 31, 2013.
• Abbotsford Senior’s new synthetic turf field – Panther Field – had to be completed by September as the City had field bookings in place.
• School boiler replacements included demolition and removal of six boilers.
• A custodial ‘summer team’ cleaning initiative at every school.
Facilities Director Tom Louie provided the board with an extensive list of installation, renovation, repair and maintenance work completed by Facilities and Transportation personnel over the summer.
Boundary review
A review of school boundaries and catchments is being undertaken by staff, Secretary –
Treasurer Ray Velestuk reported. It’s expected an initial report on these findings and possible recommendations will be presented at the October 1st public Board meeting.
District audit completed
The Audited Consolidated Financial Statements for the fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 as reviewed by KPMG, have been approved by the Board. No significant issues were reported by the auditor, and the district received a clean audit. KPMG noted some of the transitional changes made by the district in 2012 -13 to standards set in the Budget Transparency and Accountability Act of BC.
Previously the financial statements were prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles.
Annual Facilities Grant increase
A higher than expected capital allocation was
provided over the summer to the district by
the Ministry of Education, via the Annual Facility Grant Funding.
Originally the district had received $2,061,585; but that has been increased by an extra $442,000. This capital funding is for improvements and upgrades for a number of schools in the district.
Panther Field opening
The Official Opening of Abbotsford Senior Secondary’s Panther Field has been set, noted Board Chair Cindy Schafer. The Opening Ceremonies for the new synthetic, all-weather turf field will be on the evening of September 27, starting at 6:45pm, followed by a 7pm kick-off for an Abbotsford Senior football game. The community is invited to join the school district
and city for the opening.
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Scheduled meeting dates of the Abbotsford Board of Education are posted on the Abbotsford School District website. Links to meeting agendas and reports, which are usually ready the Friday afternoon before regularly scheduled Board meetings, are also posted. Board meetings normally take place at the School Board Office at 2790 Tims Street. The next meeting is Tuesday, October 1 at 7 pm.