MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 37 (DELTA)
DATE, TIME AND PLACE:
PRESENT:
January 13, 2015
7:30 p.m.
District Administration Building
Trustees:
L. Dixon, Chairperson
R. Bennett
N. Kanakos
F. Milat
B. Reid
D. Saip
V. Windsor
D. Turner, Superintendent of Schools
C. Anderson, Communications Manager
D. Annett, Director, International Programs
G. Ayres, Deputy Superintendent
B. Bauman, Director, Learning Services –
Special Programs
N. Christ, Director,
Finance & Management Services
F. Geyer, Director, Facilities & Planning
N. Gordon, Assistant Superintendent
T. Johnson, District Principal,
Learning Services
T. Nelson-Trick, Administrative Assistant
D. Sheppard, Assistant Superintendent
J. Strain, Secretary-Treasurer/
Director, Human Resources
CALL TO ORDER
Chairperson Dixon called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
Chairperson Dixon opened the meeting by acknowledging the traditional territory of the Tsawwassen
and Musqueam First Nations, and all of the Coast Salish peoples who have been stewards of this land
since time immemorial.
ADOPTION OF AGENDA
M/S Trustees Windsor/Kanakos
THAT the agenda be adopted as distributed.
CARRIED
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 37 (DELTA)
January 13, 2015
Page 2
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PROGRAMS UPDATE
Dr. Deirdre Annett, Director of International Student Programs, introduced International students
from China, Thailand, Austria, Germany, Spain, Slovakia and Korea, who shared their experiences
studying and living in Delta. Three homestay parents spoke about their family’s positive
experience having International students stay with them. Marah, a student at South Delta
Secondary, spoke about her experience on a school exchange in Italy. Dr. Annett introduced Ms.
Lynedah Vartell, District Vice-Principal of International Student Programs, and Ms. Kerstin
Dashkewytch, Homestay Coordinator.
Chairperson Dixon thanked the students for attending this evening, and for being excellent
representatives of the program. International students are bringing the world to Delta, which is
benefitting our schools and our community.
LITERACY UPDATE
Dr. Catherine Watson, Literacy Coordinator (Elementary), provided an update on literacy projects
taking place in Education Programs. The Literacy Handbook for Grades 1 & 2 was developed in
consultation with administrators, teachers, and staff from Special Programs. It is available in both
English and French, and is being very well utilized in all schools in Delta. Delta is participating in
a provincial project targeted at Changing Results for Young Readers. It is a collaboration between
classrooms teachers (Grades 1-3) and a support teacher, working together to improve a child’s
literacy achievement. For more information on this project please visit www.youngreaders.ca
(Delta’s “My Thinking Strategy” poster can also be found on this website). Through the Barbara
Jarvis Foundation, staff have arranged for Faye Brownlie to be the facilitator and presenter at this
year’s event.
Chairperson Dixon thanked Dr. Watson for presenting this evening, and Ms. Nancy Gordon,
Assistant Superintendent, acknowledged the exceptional work Dr. Watson is doing in the area of
literacy.
EDUCATION PROGRAMS UPDATE
Ms. Nancy Gordon, Assistant Superintendent, provided an update on Education Programs, and
spoke about the following highlights in the area of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment.
 The new District procedure that was developed in collaboration with administrators,
teachers and staff.
 The curriculum transformation, which is based on recommendations from teachers, is
almost complete and will be finalized for implementation by September 2015.
 Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment (CIA) School Learning Teams.
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 37 (DELTA)
January 13, 2015
Page 3


Grade 6 & 7 teacher cohorts being led by Mr. Neil Stephenson, District Principal of
Innovation & Inquiry, and Ms. Diane Graves, District Vice-Principal of Curriculum,
Instruction and Assessment.
A professional book club for teachers being organized by Ms. Graves.
Chairperson Dixon thanked Ms. Gordon for her presentation, and encouraged staff to do a
feedback component, noting getting the information out to the community is important.
Chairperson Dixon introduced the following Education Partner Group representatives in the
audience:
 Mr. John Mann – Representative of the Association of Delta School Administrators
 Mr. Paul Steer – President of the Delta Teachers’ Association
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
M/S Trustees Milat/Kanakos
THAT the Minutes of the Regular meeting of November 4, 2014 be approved.
CARRIED
M/S Trustees Windsor/Bennett
THAT the Minutes of the Regular meeting of December 9, 2014 be approved.
CARRIED
BOARD OF EDUCATION REPORT
Trustee Windsor reported on the following events and committee meetings she recently attended:
 Christmas concerts at her liaison schools.
 IB Graduation at Seaquam Secondary on December 17th, also attended by Chairperson
Dixon.
 ELL Consortium meeting last week, also attended by Mr. Satnam Chahal, District VicePrincipal of Special Programs, where Vi Nguyen from Fresh Voices was a speaker. Fresh
Voices is a group of immigrant and refugee youth with an initiative to engage immigrant
and refugee youth from across the province in dialogue and action. Jan Unwin has been
appointed as the new Superintendent of Graduation and Student Transitions with the Ministry
of Advanced Education, which sparked a good discussion at the meeting on graduation rates.
On behalf of the ELL Committee, Trustee Windsor is attending a meeting tomorrow with
Dave Byng, Deputy Minister.
 Delta’s EdCamp is being held this Saturday (January 17th). Trustee Windsor encourages
everyone to sign up.
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 37 (DELTA)
January 13, 2015
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Trustee Kanakos reported on the following events and committee meetings he recently attended:
 Christmas Concerts at Sunshine Hills and Hellings Elementaries.
 Dance Academy Performance at Delta Secondary, noting the talent and dedication was
amazing. Trustee Kanakos encourages everyone to attend a performance if they can.
Chairperson Dixon reported on the following events and committee meetings she recently attended:
 Superintendent’s Council meeting, where the Delta Youth Advisory Council provided an
update.
 Delta Child & Youth Committee meeting, where DOVE (Delta Opposes Violence
Everywhere) presented on tobacco control, noting that January 18-24 is National NonSmoking Week. The School District’s procedure has been updated to include e-cigarettes,
however, flavoured tobacco is still a concern.
 There is an upcoming BCSTA Metro Branch Meeting.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT ON STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Ms. Dianne Turner, Superintendent of Schools, introduced Ms. Gordon and Mr. Brad Bauman,
Director of Special Programs. Ms. Gordon and Mr. Bauman provided an overview of the
Superintendent’s Report on Student Achievement, highlighting the following areas of the report:
 What’s Improving?
 Challenging Areas
 Programs/Performance/Results & Intervention
 Children In Care
 Early Learning
M/S Trustees Kanakos/Milat
THAT the Board of Education approve the Superintendent’s Annual Report on Student
Achievement.
CARRIED
FIELD TRIPS
In accordance with Administrative Procedure 260, the Board was advised of the following
multiple-day field trips:
 Cliff Drive Elementary – Field trip to Montreal, Quebec from January 24 to 31, 2015.
 Ladner Elementary – Field trip to Quebec City, Quebec from February 21 to 27, 2015.
 Chalmers Elementary – Field trip to Quebec City, Quebec from February 15 to 21, 2015.
 Sunshine Hills Elementary – Field trip to Quebec City, Quebec from January 31 to
February 6, 2015.
MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 37 (DELTA)
January 13, 2015
Page 5
Chairperson Dixon congratulated Deputy Superintendent Garnet Ayres on his upcoming
retirement. Mr. Ayres started his career in education with the Richmond School District, and in
1990 joined the Delta School District as Principal at English Bluff Elementary. From 1994 to 2003
Garnet was a Principal at Devon Gardens, South Park & Boundary Beach, and Ladner
Elementaries. In 2004 he became Assistant Superintendent, and in 2010 was promoted to Deputy
Superintendent. Trustees and staff are sad to see him go, but happy for him as he moves on to
enjoy his retirement years. He served the district for twenty-four years in a variety of leadership
roles, and was always quick to jump in whenever needed. His devotion to children and their
learning, has always been a motivation and driver for him.
DATE, TIME AND PLACE OF NEXT MEETING
February 10, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.
Delta School Board Office
4585 Harvest Drive
Delta, BC
ADJOURNMENT
M/S Trustees Saip/Windsor
THAT the Delta School Board meeting of January 13, 2015 be adjourned.
CARRIED
ADJOURNMENT: 9:15 p.m.
________________________________
Chairperson
_______________________________
Secretary-Treasurer