Funding
- Manage and direct all available existing funds to support the educational needs of the children and students in the classroom
- Regular review of the line item district budget
- Lobby and work constantly for proper and full funding to meet all the needs of the students in School District 61
Communication with Community
- Report back monthly to parents and citizens about what is working and what is not ( due to underfunding}
- Regular classroom visits by trustees to stay in touch with the needs in the classroom
- Provide trustee blog for ongoing two way communication about education issues
- Develop a Community Budget
- Full community participation in the budgeting process including feedback and dialogue with stakeholder/ community presenters
- Determine the level of public funding that meets the actual needs of the school district and submit a budget which reflects these needs
- End the deliberate starving of the public school system by eliminating the practice of carrying forward unrestricted surplus funds
- Demand full funding for staff wage increases from the Ministry
- Re-evaluate administrative positions, salaries, and professional development funding ( administration $1000/yr, and for teachers $87/yr)
Full Partnership with First Nations Communities and Families
- Actively advance the goals of the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement with School District 61
- Strengthen the new relationship between Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations and the school community
- Participate in the development of First Nations curriculum based on culture and heritage
Defend Community Diversity and Public Space
- Maintain small schools
- Oppose closures and property sales
- Support community use of school facilities
- Work with school communities to determine grade configuration of their schools
Restore Quality Learning Environments – Support Just Working Conditions
- Restore smaller class sizes to the more effective levels as stated in the Collective Agreement 2001 education funding formula (30 hr school week = 30 hr educational aide time)
- Increase classroom support for children with behavioral difficulties
- Increase support for school and district educational resources, including library and counseling time (currently approx. 1.5 days/week in elementary schools)
- Reinstate staffing levels for maintenance, secretarial, custodial, and transportation services
- Support local free collective bargaining
Show Confidence in our Teachers
- Support for teacher-developed curriculum that is not driven by testing
- Encourage critical thinking and joy of learning
- Affirm the autonomy and professionalism of teachers
- Rebuild collaborative decision-making at the school level with effective use of staff committees
Advance Community and Staff Involvement in District Decision-Making
- Open all School Board meetings to the public by encouraging unrestricted dialogue
- Create a public record of Trustee votes at School Board meetings
- Full collaboration between community, trustees, staff, and administrators
- Involve community and staff in district planning and curriculum development
- Increase community and staff involvement in Board committees
Oppose all School Fees and Private Ventures in the Public System
- Universal access to all programs and services without cost
- Eliminate school fees without loss of programs
- “No” to the contracting out of district services
- Encourage discussion about the role of PAC fund raising as a result of provincial underfunding