School District 74 board meeting Nov 10 2020

The meeting was attended by: Valerie Adrian, Donna Aljam, Larry Casper, Carmen Ranta, Nancy Rempel, Orra Storkan, Vicky Trill, SD74 Superintendent Teresa Downs, ​​Secretary Treasurer ​​Lynda Minnabarriet and ​​Executive Assistant ​Jill Yakimchuk.

Some of the main topics of discussion includes: Statement of Financial Information. - The Financial Information Act (FIA) requires school districts to complete and submit a Statement of Financial Information to the Ministry of Education by December 31 of each year. School districts are required to report the following information: 1. Schedule of Debt 2. Schedule of Guarantee and Indemnity Agreements 3. Schedule of elected officials remuneration and expenses 4. Schedule of employee remuneration exceeding $75,000 5. Schedule of payments for the provision of Goods and Services.

Action Plans for Learning in the Cache Creek Elementary School, The Desert Sands Community School, David Stoddart and Lillooet K-12.

2021/22 Five Year Capital Plan - In accordance with provisions under section 142 (4) of the School Act, the Board of Education of School District No. 74 (Gold Trail) hereby approves the amended Five-Year Capital Plan for 2021/22, as provided on the Five-Year Capital Plan Summary for 2021/22 submitted to the Ministry of Education.

Ashcroft Slough Society - In October, Gloria Mertens of the Ashcroft Slough Society provided a presentation to the Board. This item is on the agenda for discussion. The Ashcroft Slough Society is a newly formed society with the purpose of seeking safe, legal, pedestrian access to the area known locally by residents in the district as the Ashcroft Slough, a geologically and ecologically unique space, 3.5 km northeast of downtown Ashcroft. This area is an exceptional space for school field trips. Teachers from throughout the district have brought students to the Ashcroft Slough to find artistic inspiration in the landscape, to study the diversity of the ecosystem’s flora and fauna, to understand geological processes, and to appreciate the cultural and historic roots of the land. The educational value of this location is undeniable.

The Slough society portion of this meeting went on for some length. Trustee Vicky Trill cited that "as an elected group, paid for by the Government, we should not condemn or endorse this particular group, just as the Ashcroft Council did not. Safety should be key." Trustee Carmen Ranta took the opposing position stating that the board send a letter of support to the Slough Society group. There was a lot of back and forth between these two trustees, eventually passing a heavily amended motion in support of the Slough Society, with trustee Trill being the only member to oppose the motion.

The meeting ended at 3pm.