JIM HOLTZ
Grand Forks Gazette
School District 51 (SD51) trustees paid a public tribute to retiring Superintendent Michael Strukoff and Maxine Ruzicka, director of instruction, at the June 11 regular meeting of the board of education, thanking them for their hard work and dedication.
In response, both officials thanked the board for their support and conscientious work on behalf of the children of SD51.
Ruzicka stated that in the end, they recognized the most important thing for all of them was “to work on behalf of families and the kids.”
Strukoff reiterated what he had written in his final superintendent’s report, thanking the board, Secretary-Treasurer Jeannette Hanlon and school administrators and crediting school board office staff for making his tenure as superintendent a positive and rewarding experience.
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The board received a presentation by Sheila Dobie, community literacy co-ordinator for the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL), and Jaclyn Salter, community youth representative, on the District Community Literacy Plan. Dobie and Salter described the various literacy programs in place during the past year and the new programs to be implemented in 2013-2014. CBAL hopes to expand its programs to include health literacy and financial literacy in the coming year.
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Teacher David Reimer presented an outline of the cultural exchange trip that he has planned for 22 Boundary French students in September and October of next school year. The exchange – with students from Ecole Secondaire de La Ruche in Magog, Que. – includes a variety of outdoor activities, as well as visits to sites of historical and cultural interest. The board approved Reimer’s plans.
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In addition, the SD51 board approved a variety of Kootenay-Boundary region Board Authorized Authority (BAA) Courses, including Journalism 12, Culinary Arts 11/12, Peer Counseling 12, Fitness for Life 11 and 12, Strength and Conditioning 11 and 12, Yearbook 10,11 and 12, Psychology 12 and a Hockey Skills Academy Framework.
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The board also adopted an annual budget for the 2013/2014 fiscal year of $17,928,385 approved in principle the achievement contracts provided by each school in the district and approved each of its School Growth Plans as well. Copies of the budget, the BAA course outlines, and the school Achievement Contracts and Growth Plans can be found on the School District 51 website.
The next board meeting will be Sept. 10 at the board office.