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More students than expected at NBCHS

The first day of school in Living Sky School Division began Tuesday, Sept. 5, and the division has released attendance data, as they do annually.
Living Sky

The first day of school in Living Sky School Division began Tuesday, Sept. 5, and the division has released attendance data, as they do annually.

Director of Education Brenda Vickers said apart from North Battleford Comprehensive High School, there were few surprises in attendance numbers. The total number of students in the division, according to the document presented at the Sept. 13 board meeting, was 5,674, including home-schooled students and students from colony schools. The projected number of students was 5,526 for this time of year.

A surprise in attendance was the student population at the Comp, in which 182 more students were in classes than expected.

Vickers said it’s not uncommon for the Comp to start with a higher-than-projected student population, but “I think all of us recognize it’s not going to go down to what we projected.”

Vickers said Grades 8 and 10 have higher-than-expected populations, and they’ll be adding a Grade 8 teacher.

Meanwhile, Leoville has 30 students less than projected. Numbers are expected to fluctuate then stabilize as class continues.

Last year, the total number of students on Sept. 30, 2017 was 5,719. May 31, 2017 projections were 5,608, while the actual total was 5,560.

Other meeting highlights:

A policy involving cases that don’t have guidelines for administrative action would give the director of education the authority to act, with such actions to be reviewed at the following board meeting.

An HR procedure was removed involving a maximum of $10,500 to be made available annually for the Doctoral Degree Support Program. The program was available to teaching staff who had completed ten years of permanent, continuous service with Living Sky or predecessor boards.

The eligible amount home-schooled students receive from the division for purchasing resources, materials and services decreased from a maximum of $650 per student to $500 per student. There are currently 101 home-based students in the division.

A presentation by new director of education Brenda Vickers regarding drafting a new strategic plan took up most of the time during the meeting. The process of drafting a strategic plan will continue throughout the year. Much of the plan will comprise what is already in the Education Sector Strategic Plan, but Vickers spoke of the importance of putting it in Living Sky’s own words.

Vickers’ report also included appointments of Candice Kraft as vice-principal of Kerrobert Composite School, and Lindsay Charabin as vice-principal of Battleford Central School; McKitrick’s interior work is completed with exterior work close to being finished; Connaught’s boilers are completed and the roof replacement has started.

It was announced that Josh Weenie of North Battleford Comprehensive High School was a successful recipient of the Prince of Wales & Duchess of Cornwall Scholarship worth $500.

A presentation by Jim Shevchuk, superintendent of learning, took up most of the meeting afterward. Shevchuk sits on a committee that discusses changes to the Education Act. See future Regional Optimists for more details on the committee.