The following are selected briefs from the Aug. 19 Horizon School Division regular board meeting.
Transportation agreement passed
A long-standing, in-town, transportation-service agreement was passed once again for the 2010-2011 school year between the board of trustees with Horizon School Division and Holy Spirit School Division for students in the Town of Taber boundary residing south of Highway 3 and whose residence is under 2.4 kilometres from their school.
The cost for the transporting board with Horizon for the upcoming school year is $35,583.60, an increase of 1.57 per cent from last year, according to John Rakai, associate superintendent of finance and operations. Holy Spirit will reimburse Horizon for half that amount in two equal installments of $8,895.90 in December 2010 and May 2011.
First reading of evaluation policy
The board passed the first reading of the new policy for the evaluation of school administrators.
“It still incorporates the professional model and evaluation the province put out in 1997,” said Cheryl Gilmore, superintendent of schools for Horizon. “What has changed is the criteria for evaluation of administrators. I reviewed them with the principals of the jurisdiction and they like them, they think they better reflect the role and responsibilities of principals in 2010 and into the future.”
The new criteria features several noted guidelines for fostering effective relationships, embodying visionary leadership, leading and participating in a learning community, providing instructional leadership, developing and facilitating leadership, managing school operations and resources, understanding and responding to the larger societal context.
Safe and caring course approved
A safe and caring school program for all junior highs in Horizon has been approved by the board.
The board had approved the program earlier this year, piecemeal to different schools.  In June it was brought back to the board to be put in Chamberlain school, with the Mennonite alternative also wanting to implement it for this school year. Instead of having various schools keep approaching the board to put the program in their schools, they decided to blanket the program.
“Rather than seeking approval for one more school, I was wondering if it was possible to have approval for all junior high programs so they can have the option to use it or not,” said Wilco Tymensen, associate superintendent of curriculum and instruction, in his request to the board at its August meeting. “We have to approve locally-developed courses once every three years. I would still expect to have schools let me know whether or not they are utilizing it.”
Awards discussed
Horizon school board passed a motion to nominate for the 2010 Premier’s Award for School Board Innovation and Excellence its opportunity shop, a rural development fund program in which Horizon was the lead in collaborating with two other districts.
In the past, Horizon has submitted such initiatives as its Mennonite learning program, learning centre, Safe and Caring leadership council, CTS box program, Warner hockey school and video conferencing.