Recent History – 2002
September 24, 2002
TUMBLER RIDGE — School board trustees approved a draft policy for establishing school planning councils during their regular meeting last Wednesday.
Mandated by the province, school planning councils will consist of five people — three parents elected by the school’s parent advisory council (PAC), a teacher and the principal — and will focus developing an annual plan to improve student achievement.
“That plan will specify the goals that the school will be addressing that year and the indicators of goal attainment,” said superintendent Mike Downey.
The PACs will continue to have a role, said Downey as an advisory group on other aspects of school operation.
The draft policy will be circulated for 45 days before it is brought back to trustees for final approval.
In a related development, Downey said that the school district’s accountability contract will be ready for submission to Victoria by the end of October.
The contract includes a progress report regarding the attainment of the previous year’s goals as set out by the school district.
Esselink retires;
changes in personnel approved
Cathy Esselink attended her last meeting as the secretary treasurer last Wednesday — after 10 years of service to the school district.
“Cathy served very capably in the position of the board’s corporate officer,” said superintendent Mike Downey, who added that prior to coming to Dawson Creek, Esselink worked many years in Alberta in education.
Bill Deith, previously the director of instruction, has become the new secretary-treasurer and an assistant superintendent as part of moves that will reduce the number of administrative positions by 1.5 full-time equivalents.
Esselink is not the only retiree. South Peace Secondary School principal Sandy McDowell will also be retiring as of January 30. The announcement has sparked a search for a new replacement.
As well, after 27 years, administrative assistant Grace Peters is retiring.
“Grace has provided exemplary service,” said Downey.
Two other personnel changes were announced. Kim Maurer is the new human resources manager, replacing David Demedeiros effective Monday. Tammy Sherstobitoff, from the Central Okanagan School District, is the new vice principal at Chetwynd Secondary School.
Tumbler Ridge trustee moving on
Tom Dall, who has represented Tumbler Ridge on the school board, is leaving the town to start a new career.
For the last four years, he’s been working towards an administrator position for a municipality and recent accepted an offer to become the administrator-clerk at the Village of Lytton.
As a result, Dall tendered his resignation as a trustee.
“Tumbler Ridge will always hold an important place within my heart, for what it has offered to my family and me over the past 18 years,” he said in a letter to trustees.