An overview of discussion items and major decisions of the Board of Education of School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake). For meeting agendas/minutes and a schedule of upcoming board meetings visit sd8.bc.ca/meetings . 

Early Learners Continuous Learning Report

Director Deanna Holitzki and District Teacher Coordinator Cheryl Makeiv presented the Early Learners Continuous Learning Report. The report aligns with federal and provincial initiatives in Early Learning, emphasizing the importance of equity and learner achievement. The primary focus was on the Early Numeracy Profile (ENP) as a tool for formative assessment to identify student strengths and improvement paths. This innovative approach is aimed at building strong foundations in mathematics for early learners.

Child Care Provision

Director Holitzki discussed the district's child care opportunities and the positive relationships with local child care providers. Since child care was transferred to the Ministry of Education and Child Care in April 2022, SD8 has been working towards helping communities thrive with a seamless day approach. Superintendent Trish Smillie confirmed plans to expand such programs, with the challenge being staff recruitment.

Graduation Ceremonies 2024

Superintendent Trish Smillie presented the schedule for the 2024 Graduation Ceremonies at various secondary schools, detailing trustee participation and event planning. The trustees will be assigned to schools at a later date and details will be available to the public on the SD8 website and school websites in the new year. 

Capital Operations Plan Update

Secretary-Treasurer Cathy MacArthur and Director of Operations Chris Kerr reported on the recent activities related to facilities, including significant projects outlined in the agenda package. Updates included stabilization of water levels and anticipated removal of the water order by Interior Health in January. The discussion also covered HVAC upgrades and the food infrastructure component of the Feeding Futures program.

SD8 Recruitment and Retention Plan

Superintendent Trish Smillie presented the recruitment and retention plan, which addresses the challenges faced by the district in hiring and retaining employees. The plan includes four focus areas: attracting talent, creating flexible training programs, enhancing leadership capabilities, and improving employee retention and engagement.

Student Trustees' Reports

Student Trustees Daisy Lamoureux (J.V. Humphries School), Angelia Thompson (L.V. Rogers Secondary), and Micah Luchetta (J.V. Humphries School) reported on school activities, fundraising initiatives, and upcoming events, reflecting the active involvement of students in their respective schools: 

• Student Trustee Angelia Thomson reported on a very successful fall season for LVR’s sports teams. Dance Academy went on a productive and trip to Vancouver that included two successful auditions for the dance school in Vancouver. French immersion students currently prepare for their dogwood exams. A variety show will be held on before winter break. Everyone is looking forward to the holiday season.
• Student Trustee Daisy Lamoureux reported from very successful fundraisers for food hampers to collect food for families in need over the holidays. Drama performances will be on Wednesday and Thursday. 
• Student Trustee Micah Luchetta added a report from a grad parent meeting that was held in November. Thursday and Friday in December were Christmas Spirit days.

These highlights exclude confidential information such as business negotiations, personnel issues and legal matters. For other information or to provide feedback, please contact our Public Engagement Manager at 250-352-6681 or engagement@sd8.bc.ca 

About School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake): Located in the southern Interior of British Columbia, SD8 serves numerous diverse communities in the Kootenays including Crawford Bay, Creston, Kaslo, Meadow Creek, Nelson, Salmo, Slocan, South Slocan, Winlaw, Wynndel, and Yahk. We also serve students across B.C. through our provincial online learning school, Elev8. Our dedicated team focuses on providing the best possible educational opportunities for over 4,700 students and their families. Our mission is to inspire and support each learner to thrive in a caring learning environment.