A new way of professional development has been put forward to the teachers of School District 51 (Boundary). At the board meeting held on Tuesday, September 10 in Grand Forks trustees gave final approval to the District Achievement Contract, which identifies the Inquiry Process as one of the four main goals for the coming year.
Specifically, the four goals are:
• to embed the Inquiry Process into teaching and learning,
• to improve student achievement in reading, writing and numeracy,
• to implement emerging technologies in teaching and learning into the classroom for all students,
• to develop a district shared vision embedding health promoting schools initiatives into schools and classrooms.
Superintendent Kevin Argue reported that each August teachers from across the district come together for August Days—a time of focusing thought and energy on the coming school year. School district administration and the Boundary District Teachers’ Association (BDTA) develop the agenda collaboratively.
According to Director of Learning Doug Lacey, August Days this year was based on the introduction of the Inquiry Process to the teachers of the district.
Lacey explained the Inquiry Process as a way for teachers to explore specific areas of interest to them that they feel might make students more successful.
“The idea is not to perpetuate the status quo,” said Lacey. “It is to really ask a deep question. Scanning what is happening for your learners and then focusing— perhaps the entire school or maybe just a few teachers—to develop that hunch into a system of learning, action, checking and scanning to see if the change achieved the desired outcome.”
Spirals of inquiry is not new in the province, and during August Days SD 51 teachers were invited to listen to August Days keynote speakers Judy Halbert and Linda Kaser, authors of Spirals of Inquiry for Equity and Quality.
Argue said that district administration will be connecting with all schools to assess how they can be supported in the use of the Inquiry Process.
BDTA President Norm Sabourin said the Inquiry Process differs from the old-model of teacher professional development where a speaker is brought in and they lecture while the teachers take notes.
Lacey said the Inquiry Process is also seen as being useful in developing school growth plans or professional growth plans. It could also take other forms, such as reading and discussing a text together or conducting research.
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The district is going into the second year of Erase Bullying. Principals and lead teachers from each school will be going to Nelson Oct. 1-3 for more training.
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Secretary Treasurer Jeanette Hanlon reported that as of the Board meeting date, enrolment is higher than projected in June by 16 students, but down from last September by 29 students. Final numbers that will be used for funding from Victoria will be generated on Sept. 30.
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The board adopted the five-year capital plan, which lists three new buses this school year. The board passed a capital project bylaw that will see $9,765 used to develop a report that will be needed to access future government funding for climate action initiatives such as window or boiler replacement.
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A sub-committee on sexual orientation and gender identification policy has been formed and a meeting schedule developed. The committee is composed of public health nurses Linda Manzon and Heather Shilton, Norm Sabourin, Kevin Argue and Vicki Gee.
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Tyler Neale and Chris Myers of the auditing firm Grant Thornton reviewed the 2012 - 2013 audited financial statements and the board approved them.