Board Meeting Follow-up with significant announcement

At Tuesday’s (Nov 25) board meeting, they released a framework said they would look at enrolment solutions from a sector perspective and would consult more with stakeholders, including parents and the city. We’re not sure how the sector approach differs from the previous approach, but we think it is positive that the board will consult more with stakeholders. We’d like it to go further, however. The school board should coordinate with the city, not just consult. Parents and schools need flexibility to address enrolment as well, such as the ability to offer magnet programs like French immersion. Holyrood School, for instance, has French immersion but turns students away. There is demand for this program in Capilano and adjacent communities, but the school board denied our school the option of looking at French immersion. Of course, French immersion is just one magnet program. Others could include and IB program, or an all boys stream such as the Nellie McClung program for girls.

Edgar Schmidt did say they would make no closure announcements this year, but this may be a little hollow. It’s likely already to announce a closure for the 2009.10 school year. Our school is still part of the review.

Waiting for the big announcement

We hope you heard Russ’s interview with Ron Wilson on the CBC Radio morning show. Many thanks to CBC reporter Tim Adams for contacting us and arranging the interview.

We hope to have a follow up interview after the November 25 school board meeting, where the board is said to release the "revolutionary" new format for reviewing schools. We hope you can make it to the meeting, or at the very least listen for the follow-up report on CBC.

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CBC Radio One Interview with Ron Wilson

Tune in to CBC Radio One on Monday morning at 7:40 a.m., 17 November 2008 when we will be interviewed by Ron Wilson.

In the Edmonton area, it's 740AM and 93.9FM from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m. weekdays. Or, online at http://www.cbc.ca/radio/.

More about the show here: http://www.cbc.ca/edmontonam/.

Here we go again

Well, our schools are back in the review. In June, parents received the letter posted below saying Capilano, Fulton Place, Gold Bar and Hardisty schools were again under review.

We’ve also learned the school will be releasing its school evaluation process at the Nov 25 board meeting. We don’t know anything about the process yet. We’ll post the results here after the meeting.

You can do two things to show your support for our schools.

1. Call 780-429-8085 or email (George.Rice@epsb.ca) our trustee, George Rice, to tell him you support keeping our schools open.

2. Come to the November 25 board meeting and let you voice be heard. The board meets at 6:00 in the McCauley Chambers at the Centre for Education at 1 Kingsway Ave. (on Kingsway Avenue close to 101 Street).

The latest letter from Edgar Schmidt, Superintend

Highlights: there will be a review of district needs, and they intend to consult with many different groups, parents included, while working on the plan. Email ten.year.plan@epsb.ca.

Links to EPSB Board Meetings Agendas and Minutes

If you'd like to be notified by email of upcoming Edmonton Public School Board Meetings, contact the board office at 780-429-8021. You can be placed on the email list.

- Board Meeting #5 Agenda - Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes: available 14 November 2008.

- Board Meeting #4 Agenda - Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes: http://www.epsb.ca/board/oct28_08/item00.pdf

- Board Meeting #3 Agenda - Tuesday, October 14, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes: http://www.epsb.ca/board/oct14_08/item00.pdf

- Board Meeting #2 Agenda - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 6:00 p.m.
Minutes: http://www.epsb.ca/board/sept23_08/item00.pdf

- Organizational Board Meeting Agenda - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 (7:30 p.m.)
Minutes: http://www.epsb.ca/board/sept09_08/item00.pdf