News Leader News for February 03, 2009
SCHOOL DISTRICT 58 NEWS
A residential construction project to teach carpentry skills will involve 12 students in building a 1,500 square foot home in Merritt. Princeton students will go to Merritt for instruction. Trustee Troy Hunter suggested the project could address the need for low cost housing, but Board Chair Gordon Comeau said this is not possible this year, but could be considered in the future. Students learn CPR
The Board of Education has approved instruction of Cardi-pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in secondary schools as part of the Physical Education curriculum.
The Board approved a band trip for Vermilion Forks and Princeton Secondary band students. The students will leave on March 7 to see a musical production of "Annie" in Vancouver. Family fitness
The Ministry of Education has issued booklets describing recommended daily physical activities for families. These take-home booklets will be given to each student. Students will be given booklets appropriate to their age group. The Ministry hopes families will involve students in some form of daily physical activity aimed at sustaining and improving heart health and muscular strength. Caring for baby
The I.O.D.E. has given two computerized dolls to Princeton Secondary School. The dolls mimic real babies. A student is given a doll to care for and must care for it all day. The experience helps students learn first hand how much time and dedication is required to care for an infant. The Board of Education learned that some students soon discovered it was tiresome, and wanted to give the doll back, but that was not part of the real-life experience.
BOARD REPORTS STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Superintendent Byron Robbie presented the annual Student Achievement Report to the Board of Education on January 29. The report shows improvement in many areas.
FSA scores are used to measure reading, writing and number skills, and these remain strong. Local students feel safe at school.
The number of students achieving graduation is increasing.
Some improvement is needed in the areas of social skills, communication skills and general knowledge.
The focus of the district has shifted to more assessment of individual needs and addressing individual needs.
The report expresses concern about student health in the district, as well as concern for the level of poverty in the district. The district is doing all it can to ensure students complete Grade 12.
MP SPEAKS OUT ON NEW BUDGET
"Despite borrowing from some of the proposals of the Liberal-NDP policy accord in his budget, Prime Minister Harper has not convinced New Democrats that his budget plan is sincere or credible," says BC Southern Interior New Democrat MP, Alex Atamanenko.
"Until a few short weeks ago Stephen Harper built his career on fighting against social and economic safety nets," said Atamanenko.
"This budget is a failure in terms of protecting the most vulnerable and won't provide the stimulus needed during these hard economic times."
Atamanenko says that the onerous regulations outlined in the Conservative budget for municipalities trying to access infrastructure funds and housing support money will ensure that little if any of the money will actually flow where it is most needed.
"BC Southern Interior municipalities simply do not have the money or the capacity to satisfy the requirement to match federal funding," noted Atamanenko.
"What is likely to happen is that the majority of infrastructure funding will go to the larger cities which have a stronger tax base."
Municipal leaders across Canada are still waiting for almost all of the $1.5-billion in infrastructure funding that has yet to flow from previous promises under the Building Canada Fund.
The BC MP also noted that there was no mention of improving access to Employment Insurance (EI).
"Even though the benefit period has been lengthened for those already collecting EI, without more flexible eligibility requirements far too many who are now losing their jobs will still be unable to access the insurance program they have paid into," said Atamanenko.
"Again the new funding announced for skills training is good for those who can collect EI but for the 60 percent of workers - 70 percent of which are women - who are ineligible for EI under the existing rules won't have any access.
Atamanenko says that the federal government has also failed to address the problem of crippling student debt which prevents many young people from contributing to the economy.
"By granting $60-billion in corporate tax benefits and ignoring the needs of students, Mr. Harper has again shown where his priorities lie. It is truly disappointing that the Liberal Party has chosen once again to prop up the Conservative government by supporting this deeply flawed budget that hits the vulnerable hard," said Atamanenko.
"This is a government who does not believe that access to Employment Insurance, affordable housing, childcare and education are vital to the economic and social health of communities during these critical times," stated Atamanenko.
