Manitoba Association of School Trustees

MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES

2004–2005 ANNUAL REPORT

OUR MISSION

The Manitoba Association of School Trustees exists to ensure quality public education for Manitoba students through effective, locally-elected boards of trustees.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Letter from the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Letter from the Executive Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 The Year in Review. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Advocacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Labour Relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Risk Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Trustee Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Looking Ahead. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Our Goals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Foundation Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Celebrating Achievement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 20 0 4 –20 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T

Innovative Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Exceptional Commitment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Outstanding Youth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Financial Highlights. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Provincial Executive, 2005–2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Statement of Integrity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

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LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT October, 2005 Dear Colleagues: By the time you read this, it will be less than twelve months until the next round of school board elections in October 2006. For many trustees, that realization will prompt any number of questions, including the inevitable exclamation of “where does the time go!?”

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

Some of you may be asking yourselves whether or not you have the time and energy to offer your name for one more term. Perhaps when you first ran for office, someone convinced you that being a trustee meant going to “one or two meetings a month.” After three or more years on the job, you recognize that for what it was—a white lie that conveniently overlooked the committee meetings, the school events, and the community functions that are a vital part of your role. You wouldn’t have missed them for the world, but they sure add up to a whole lot more than “one or two meetings a month!”

If you have served your community for many years, you may be asking yourself whether it’s time to step back, time to allow new voices and new ideas to be heard at the board table. Perhaps you first ran for school trustee when your own children were attending the very schools you help govern, children who are now grown and raising families of their own. Some days, you may feel that you’ve given all that you are willing to give, and that it’s someone else’s turn to pick up the mantle of leadership. Some days, retirement from public service seems to be beckoning!

These are questions that we each have to answer for ourselves, as individuals seeking to balance our public and private lives. But as we move through the next months towards election day, there is one other question that I would ask each and every trustee in Manitoba to think about: why do we need school boards?

The question isn’t “what do school boards do?” The answer to that question can be found under “Powers and Duties of School Boards” in the Public Schools Act. The question is a more fundamental one, one that gets at the very nature of democracy. Put the question in your own local context. Ask how your school board has shaped the schools in your community. What heritage or cultural programs, what early years initiatives, what services for students-at-risk make your schools different from the ones across the street or across the province? What issues identified by parents, by the local business community, or by students themselves have shaped your divisional goals and strategic directions? How have your decisions and actions made a positive difference in the life of a student, a school, or a community?

When you answer these questions, you are really answering the question “why do we need school boards?”

When you answer this question in the months leading up to school board elections, you are also answering the fundamental underlying questions of why someone should care enough to vote, or even consider running for office him or herself. In fulfilling its mandate, MAST works at the provincial level to answer the same questions. Some of your Association’s efforts in this regard are outlined in this Annual Report.

RUTH ANN FURGALA President

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LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR October, 2005

“May you live in interesting times” says an old Chinese proverb. For the Manitoba Association of School Trustees and for the elected public school boards of this province, these are, indeed, interesting and challenging times!

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Year over year, the issues in public education seem to multiply with dizzying speed. Special needs education, student assessment policies and practices, student health and wellness, education funding, aboriginal education, school safety, municipal electoral changes, the Workers’ Compensation Act Review— these are just a sampling of the many issues which have come before MAST and its member school boards in the past year. These, in the context of new policy and program mandates for school boards, increased service expectations of parents and communities, shrinking financial capacities of school divisions and growing anti-tax sentiment in the public arena, combine to make governing Manitoba’s public schools a hugely complex task, often poorly understood and little appreciated by opinion leaders and citizens within our province.

Public schools belong to the people and every citizen, regardless of age, gender, income level or occupation, is an owner. The school board’s role is to engage these owners to ensure that community values and priorities are reflected in educational programs and services offered for students at the local level. Given the diverse and multiple “owners” in any one school division, complexity and controversy often give way to confusion and criticism in the discussion of school boards and the work that they do.

This new publication, like MAST’s newly designed web-site, is one of several initiatives approved by your Provincial Executive to make the work of Manitoba’s elected public school boards and of the Association more visible and more understandable to our partners and our publics, whomever and wherever they may be. I hope you will find it both interesting and informative. Your comments and feedback on this annual report are welcomed.

Happy reading!

CAROLYN DUHAMEL Executive Director

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW Advocacy The structure and context of middle years assessments, the development of standards and regulations for special needs education, school safety protocols and practices, student wellness, teacher bargaining structures, education funding and property taxation, and early childhood development and care—these were the significant policy issues which dominated MAST’s advocacy efforts at the provincial level in 2004–2005. In addition to attending numerous consultations and meetings with government officials, education partners and community agencies, MAST responded to a multitude of media inquiries on these topics.

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

A one-day members’ policy forum was convened in October, 2004 to explore alternative teacher bargaining models and to consider the recommendations of the Minister’s Working Group on Education Finance.

Other special initiatives undertaken by the Association in the past year included financial support for the Manitoba Inclusive Education Summit held in October 2004, representation at the National Inclusive Education Summit (Ottawa, November 2004), and the Canadian Education Association Systems Integration in Early Childhood Education and Care Forum (Ottawa, December 2004), sponsorship of youth attendees to the National Children’s Alliance Youth Forum in Kingston, Ontario, March 2005 and submission of a brief on behalf of Manitoba school boards to the Healthy Kids, Healthy Futures Task Force in the spring of 2005.

At the federal level, MAST focused its advocacy efforts in three areas—the federal early learning and care funding strategy, pending changes to copyright legislation, and the extension of full Goods and Services Tax rebates to the education sector. All of these remain on-going priorities for MAST in the current year and the Association will continue to ensure that the perspectives of Manitoba school boards are heard on these and other emergent federal issues of relevance to public schools.

It goes without saying that numbers count when attempting to influence and shape public policy and legislative change. MAST’s advocacy efforts on behalf of its member school boards have been enhanced and strengthened in this past year through the actions of local boards that have written letters of support and actively lobbied both provincial and federal legislators. Thank you to all boards who have contributed to MAST’s lobbying initiatives on these issues. Together we are stronger and we can make a positive difference for our students and for our communities.

Labour Relations As of June 2005, 16 school divisions and their teacher associations had settled collective agreements to either June 30, 2006 or June 30, 2007. Fifteen divisions had contracts that expired as of June 30, 2005, while a further three had contracts that had expired as of June 30, 2004. Four school divisions were proceeding to arbitration. With an arbitrated decision for Prairie Rose School Division in June 2005, and the recent River East Transcona teacher settlement, all twelve amalgamated school divisions have concluded their first amalgamated teacher agreements. The MAST Labour Relations Department represents 32 school divisions at the teacher bargaining table.

The Department is also directly involved in negotiating 52 support staff agreements. Over the period, support staff agreements have been settled without any strikes or lockouts, and with expiry dates into 2007 or 2008.

In November 2004, a brief prepared by the Labour Relations Department was presented to the Workers’ Compensation Act Review Committee. In this brief, MAST outlined the financial impact that mandated inclusion of teachers under workers’ compensation legislation would have on school divisions and, without targeted support from the provincial government, school property tax rates. As of this writing, school teachers are an excluded class of employees under workers’ compensation legislation.

As the year covered by this Annual Report drew to a close, MAST learned that the provincial government would be introducing regulatory changes that would mandate substitute teacher agreements.

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This action was in response to a Manitoba Labour Board decision that substitute teachers were an appropriate group to be certified for collective bargaining purposes. While the Labour Board ruling anticipated that substitutes would be certified separately from existing local teacher associations, the Minister created substitute contracts in an effort to include substitutes in existing teacher bargaining units. Subsequently, over the course of regular bargaining, school boards and local associations would bargain for benefits not in statute or explicitly provided to substitutes in existing teacher agreements.

Risk Management Over the past year, MAST’s Risk Management services were marked by the development of a major resource aimed at improving student safety, a milestone anniversary, and positive financial news for school boards.

YouthSafe Manitoba – A School Field Trip Resource was delivered to Manitoba school boards in September 2004. The purpose of this resource was to support policy and practice regarding field trip safety for Manitoba schools.

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Safe Grad Manitoba reached a 25 year milestone in 2005. In the quarter-century since its establishment in this province, participating schools have suffered no serious injuries or traffic crashes. A second program aimed at reducing alcohol-related traffic accidents, Teens Against Drinking and Driving (TADD), featured PLAYOUT – A Chance to be Heard, where young musicians appeared in public. One of the groups that participated in this competition received a recording contract as a result of this exposure.

The Manitoba Schools Insurance Program (MSIP) rebated over $300,000 to Manitoba school boards at the end of the insurance term in June 2005. As well, despite a $10,000,000 school fire in Moose Lake in February 2005, school boards experienced a decrease in insurance premiums for the current year.

Trustee Education The 2004–2005 MAST Trustee Education program included three major events.

In early December, Leslie Dornan, a Senior Partner with Meyers Norris Penny in Winnipeg, conducted a two-day workshop on Superintendent Recruitment, Selection, and Evaluation. The session was timely in light of a significant turnover in recent years in the ranks of senior school division administration.

The program, which was developed with input from MAST’s Labour Relations Department, focused on the need to connect selection and evaluation processes, and on effective methods of evaluating senior administrators. The session was highly rated by the more than 80 trustees and administrators in attendance.

In May, the focus of discussion turned to policy governance. Barry Bashutski, Associate Executive Director of Education Services with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, guided participants through the development and implementation of a policy governance model for school boards in Manitoba’s neighbouring province. As well, two Manitoba school boards who have adopted policy governance models shared their own experiences. According to participant evaluations, the session effectively clarified the governance role of school boards, and gave them the information they needed to begin re-evaluating their own operations in this area.

MAST’s Annual Convention, including a full-day of pre-Convention offerings, provided the Association’s other major trustee education opportunity during the year in review. One of the highlights of the 2005 Convention was a plenary presentation by the Manitoba Centre for Health Policy on Socio-Economic Status and Educational Outcomes. Workshops on student inclusion, arts education, alternative programs, and programming for gifted students were among sessions designed to help schools boards ensure that public schools meet the needs of all students. One session in particular—Crystal Meth Production Awareness— proved to be so popular that it is being offered again in 2006.

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LOOKING AHEAD Our Goals Each year, following MAST’s Annual Convention, the newly-elected Provincial Executive meets for a threeday planning retreat. In 2005, the retreat was held from April 8 to 10 in Brandon.

At the end of these three days, the Executive emerges with a set of goals and strategies to guide the Association’s work for the upcoming year. In 2005, goals were identified in four areas.

Students: to pursue positive societal responses to meet the developmental and learning needs of children and youth. Strategies used to advance this goal will include MAST’s partnering in the planning of a physical activity summit and a forum that will bring together the childcare and education sectors. MAST will continue its efforts to strengthen relationships with aboriginal organizations, and to help school divisions share and showcase their programs and services in the area of aboriginal education. The Association will also continue to be an active participant in organizations such as Safe Schools Manitoba, the Manitoba Council on Child Nutrition, and the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg.

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

Governance: to create understanding of and appreciation for the role of school boards as the voice and vehicle for local decision-making in public education. This Annual Report is one of the tools that MAST is using to meet that goal. Other print documents, such as an information brochure about school boards and MAST, and a comprehensive trustee handbook, are in the development stages. The Association is also developing tools for school boards to use to help them report more clearly on their budgeting process to their communities, as well as resources to encourage participation (of both candidates and electors) in the 2006 school trustee elections. And as always, MAST is pursuing opportunities to engage in public discussion about the nature of public schooling in Manitoba.

Government Relations: to strengthen MAST’s working relationship and its influence with the provincial government and opposition parties in the provincial legislature; and to ensure a coordinated and effective lobby by MAST and member boards on provincial and/or federal issues and legislation which may impact public education and local education governance. As part of the formal strategy to further this goal, MAST is endeavouring to meet at least annually with all provincial party caucuses, In addition, the Association is meeting with individual Cabinet Ministers, as appropriate, to inform provincial legislators about school board concerns and issues. MAST is also exploring options for the continual monitoring of federal issues, and will provide recommendations and tools to support local advocacy efforts of school boards on provincial policies and legislation, and on selected federal issues which impact school divisions.

Member Services: to ensure relevancy in the delivery of programs and services to meet current and emerging member needs. In order to meet this goal, the role of Provincial Executive Director will be strengthened to create more effective communication linkages within regions and between regions and the MAST Executive. As well, the regional meeting structure will be revised to incorporate discussion sessions and professional development components for trustees. The Association will pursue discussions with MASS, MASBO, and MTS regarding collaborative approaches for administrator professional development, and will begin to develop a comprehensive trustee education program. Existing services and potential new services will be rationalized with an eye to succession planning for the staff resources of the Association.

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Foundation Documents MAST’s current mission statement (which can be found at the beginning of this Annual Report) has served the Association well for almost 20 years. In recent years, however, successive Provincial Executives have talked about whether or not the time had come for a change so as to better reflect the evolving role of MAST and school boards. Input was solicited from member school boards as part of the review of MAST’s governance structure, which took place in 2004–2005. This feedback, combined with deliberations from the 2004 and 2005 Executive Planning Retreats, led the current Association Executive to conclude that revision and updating were in order.

The result was not only the drafting of a new mission for MAST, but also a vision, a mandate, and statements of values and beliefs. Taken together, these pieces comprise a set of proposed foundation documents for MAST, documents that aim to clearly define the why, the what, and the how of Association operations.

These documents are still in draft stage. They are being circulated to school boards for discussion at the local level, and will be discussed regionally at meetings in January. If there is general consensus that these foundation documents appropriately reflect the roles and responsibilities of MAST, the membership will be asked to adopt them formally at the March 2006 Convention.

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Operations The upcoming year will see some changes at the MAST office on Provencher Boulevard in Winnipeg. In recent years, the retirements of two long-time members of the Labour Relations Department resulted in the addition of two new faces. Before the end of 2005, one more Labour Relations Consultant will be hired.

This additional hiring, approved by the Provincial Executive at its October meeting, was necessitated by the growing workload of this department. Despite the 2002 school division amalgamations that saw the number of school divisions in the province reduced from 54 to 38, the MAST Labour Relations Department is working directly with more school boards, and is involved in negotiating a significantly higher number of collective agreements, than it did pre-amalgamation.

The MAST office continues to be the physical home of Safe Schools Manitoba. The provision of office space is one component of the $28,000 support-in-kind MAST provides annually to this independent organization. To date, Safe Schools Manitoba’s one staff member has been its Director, Mary Hall. In recent months, MAST has been in discussion with the Government of Manitoba concerning additional provincial support for Safe Schools Manitoba. The financial contribution we are seeking would fund a half-time administrative assistant for the organization, freeing up the Director’s time to do more of what is needed most: working with schools and divisions on initiatives focused on ensuring that our schools are safe and nurturing places for all students.

Two more people working out of the MAST building will mean that we will have a very full and busy office, but the Executive and staff are always eager to welcome visitors just the same. So, if you haven’t dropped by to see us in a long time—and especially if you’ve never crossed the threshold of 191 Provencher Boulevard—please drop in when you have a chance. The doors are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday, and the coffee is always on!

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CELEBRATING ACHIEVEMENT In addition to its work with and for school boards, MAST is an active member of the broader community.

The Association’s community involvement takes a number of different forms, including three programs that recognize exemplary programs, educators, and students.

Six MAST Student Citizenship Awards are given annually to Manitoba students who have demonstrated their commitment to the values of citizenship in both their school and broader communities.

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

The MAST Presidents’ Council Award is given annually in recognition of exemplary service or achievement in the areas of trusteeship, classroom teaching, administration or educational leadership, with consideration given to contributions at the local, provincial, and national levels.

The Premier Award for School Board Innovation has been established to recognize educational innovations and improvements focused on student achievement that have been advanced or directed by school boards. Financial support for this award is provided by Xerox Canada.

In 2005, these awards were presented in conjunction with MAST’s Annual Convention, as part of our Celebration of Success. Read on for profiles of the 2005 award recipients.

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Bernie Loeppky, a teacher at Plum Coulee School, and Mary-Anna Aaldyk-Doerksen, a teacher at Southwood School, at the GlobalTrek booth during the 2005 School Board Innovation Showcase.

Innovative Programs The Premier Award for School Board Innovation recognizes educational innovations and improvements focused on student achievement that have been advanced or directed by boards of education. The sponsor, Xerox Canada Ltd., provides a cash prize to be used in support of the winning entry. The recipient is chosen by a selection panel that considers: • the innovative nature of the program or project; • sustainability of the innovation within the present system or school; • ability to transfer the innovation to other systems or schools; • cost of the innovation relative to benefits achieved; 20 0 4 –20 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T

• client support for the innovation; and • evidence of improved student achievement.

Thirteen school boards applied for the 2005 Premier Award for School Board Innovation. These entries were showcased as part of our Celebration of Success at the 2005 MAST Convention. The real winners in this competition are students from across Manitoba, as they will ultimately benefit from the innovative ideas and programs that school boards shared with each other. However, the rules state that one entry must be singled out as recipient of the Premier Award for School Board Innovation, and in 2005, that most-deserving entry was the Garden Valley School Division’s GlobalTrek: Global Classroom Initiative.

In January 2002, a group of eight interested teachers from Garden Valley submitted a proposal to the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to participate in the Global Classroom Initiative.

With approval and funding from CIDA, in-kind support from partnering NGO’s and release time from the school division, the team produced kits of text materials, corresponding videos, and a comprehensive website. The materials were piloted by 38 teachers from across Manitoba in 2003–2004, and a finished version was made available to Manitoba teachers by August 2004.

The resources that were developed complement the Manitoba Social Studies Curriculum for grades 3 and 7. GlobalTrek involves grade 3 students in virtual travel experiences to countries such as India, Cambodia, Ghana, and Nicaragua. This virtual travel promotes awareness of basic human rights in world communities, and helps students learn about how they can make a difference as responsible global citizens in a global community. The grade 7 students travel to India, Bolivia, Serbia, Pakistan and Africa to learn about issues such as hunger, education, gender equality, child labour, war, water, sanitation and health.

Through their travel, students learn that the world is not the same as their community, and that people in the developed world can help contribute to making a better world for everyone.

GlobalTrek has been enthusiastically received by students and teachers alike. Over 200 kits have been sold to schools in Manitoba, with a potential reach of 10,000 students. CIDA has featured the project on its website, and encouraged the team to apply for further funding to market the kits nationally, and other provinces and agencies have expressed interest in learning more about GlobalTrek. Congratulations to all those who worked so hard to make GlobalTrek a most worthy recipient of the 2005 Premier Award for School Board Innovation!

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Gail Bagnall receives her award from MAST President Garry Draper

Exceptional Commitment

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

Gail Bagnall, Superintendent of the Lord Selkirk School Division, was chosen from among five highly-qualified nominees as the recipient of the 2005 MAST Presidents’ Council Award. In its letter of nomination, the school board characterized Gail as “an educator who, throughout her career, has demonstrated exemplary service and outstanding achievement beyond the requirements of the varied positions she has held. As a teacher, coach, consultant, civil servant and superintendent, she has demonstrated innovative thinking and has directed her talent and energy towards enhancing and advocating for the public education system in Manitoba. Gail Bagnall models our division’s mission of Education Care and Excellence. Her leadership style is highly collaborative—she believes that a strong team approach will create better thinkers, and will produce quality educational opportunities for students.”

Gail has served as Superintendent of Lord Selkirk School Division since 1993. Under her direction, the division has introduced exemplary programs aimed at enhancing school success for at-risk teens, aboriginal students, and autistic children, among others. From 1990 to 1993, Gail was Director of Curriculum Services with Manitoba Education and Training, during which time she coordinated the province-wide implementation of the High School Review, and developed the first provincial standards tests in S4 mathematics and English language arts.

Gail has served as President of the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents, the Manitoba Association of English Language Arts Consultants and Coordinators, the Manitoba Association of Teachers of English, and the Manitoba Speech and Debating Association. She was Co-Chair of the 2003 Western Canada Summer Games, and has served as a member of the Executive of the Board of Governors of Red River College.

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Minister of Education, Citizenship and Youth Peter Bjornson, MAST President Garry Draper, and the 2005 MAST Student Citizenship Award Winners

Outstanding Youth In 2003, MAST established a Student Citizenship Award program for public school students in Manitoba.

Under this program, six awards are given annually, one to a student in each of MAST’s geographic regions. There are no age or grade restrictions on this award—any student in regular attendance in the K-S4 program at a Manitoba public school is eligible. Students are recognized for their commitment to the values of citizenship, as demonstrated through: • volunteer service to the community; • involvement in citizenship or character building organizations; • participation in student government programs or activities; or 20 0 4 –20 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T

• leadership ability to motivate others to actions which benefit the community.

Read on to learn about the six outstanding young people who were recognized by MAST in 2005.

Laurie Boon

(REGION 1)

At the time of her nomination, Laurie Boon was a Senior 4 student at Virden Collegiate in the Fort La Bosse School Division, where she was in her fourth year as a student council member. As an elementary and middle years student, Laurie served as a Peer Helper, offering support and tutoring to her fellow students during challenging times in their lives, and as a member of the Circle of Friends, working with mentally challenged students in her school. Laurie was a member of the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life Steering Committee in her high school, which was the first high school in Canada to organize this community event. The efforts of Laurie and her fellow students raised over $47,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In 2002, Laurie became the youngest member of the Virden Palliative Care Team, a group she joined because she felt palliative care “was an essential and valuable service that her community needed.” She also volunteered at a seniors’ home in Virden from the age of 12, and helped with fundraisers and social events for the Rebekahs and Oddfellows.

Laurie believes that her volunteer work has been an integral part of her growth as a citizen. It has taught her many skills that are imperative in her quest to become a good citizen. Laurie looks forward to living out her citizenship ideals throughout her lifetime.

Jessica Johnson

(REGION 2)

Jessica Johnson was a Senior 4 student at Sanford Collegiate in the Red River Valley School Division at the time of her nomination, where she has been recognized for her positive contributions to her school community. In Senior 2, Jessica received the Student Initiative Award in recognition of her constant drive to be the best she can be, and in Senior 3 was awarded Cum Laude status for maintaining an average of 80% or higher in her studies. Jessica served as a member of both her school’s recycling team and the

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graduation committee. In a letter of support from a counsellor at her school, Jessica was characterized as a student who “relates well to both peers and adults, and is a positive role model. Jessica is approachable and listens to others’ concerns, is able to resolve conflicts.”

Jessica’s community involvement included volunteering at Starbuck School and at a local daycare centre.

In the words of a teacher from the child care facility where Jessica volunteered, she “is a great asset to the community, even at her young age. She shows a genuine interest in every task. Her willingness to help and her positive attitude will take her a long way in life.”

In the essay that comprised part of her application for the Student Citizenship Award, Jessica said that “to me, citizenship means doing good things for others.” Her actions certainly show that she has taken those words to heart.

Sarah Lefley

(REGION 3)

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

Interlake School Division nominee and Region 3 winner Sarah Lefley was a Senior 4 student and student council president at Warren Collegiate. As a member of student council, she helped organize fundraisers in support of the Children’s Hospital Foundation, World Vision, the Christmas Cheer Board, victims of the Southeast Asia tsunami disaster, and the Canadian Cancer Society. Sarah also served as a member of the local chapter of Teens Against Drinking and Driving, and on the yearbook committee as class representative and photographer. She was also a peer tutor, a mentor to younger students through the Manitoba High Schools Athletic Association’s Champions Program, and an environmentalist who campaigned for the planting of trees and an expanded recycling program.

Sarah volunteered at the Humane Society and at church and community dinners. From 1997, she organized fundraisers for a family scholarship fund. As an athlete, Sarah not only excelled in a variety of sports, but also found the time to share her talents by coaching basketball and helping younger children learn to skate.

Sarah’s school sponsor characterized her as “a well-organized, energetic, compassionate young lady who combines a dedication to academics with a strong commitment to sports and community. . . . Sarah Lefley is a very deserving applicant for the MAST Student Citizenship Award.”

Christian Sweryda

(REGION 4)

At the time of his nomination, Christian Sweryda was a student at Hapnot Collegiate in the Flin Flon School Division, where he sat on the student council and represented that body on the Flin Flon City Council. In describing Chris, one of his school sponsors noted that “no one is better at generating new ideas and seeing them through to their realization. His ability to initiate and stick with projects, even when all others have given up, is most impressive.” Those school projects included the design and set up of the Hapnot Collegiate website, organizing a Halloween Fun Day for the youth of the community, and numerous other fundraisers. Chris was also a photographer for the school yearbook.

Chris’s community involvement included three years of volunteering with the Flin Flon Station Museum.

As well, he volunteered with the local Elks lodge, assisting with the annual Christmas Cheer hamper program. Chris’s community spirit also prompted his involvement in the local food bank, recycling centre, and seniors’ Christmas Party.

Chris believes that citizenship is about duties more than rights. Citizenship is about asking “What can I do for my community?” Chris Sweryda has been diligent about asking himself that question, and about finding new ways to answer it.

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Nadia Pawlosky

(REGION 5)

Nadia Pawlosky was a Senior 4 student in the International Baccalaureate program at Silver Heights Collegiate in the St. James-Assiniboia School Division at the time of her nomination. Nadia was a member of the student council, the yearbook and graduation committees, and both the school and division-level safe schools committees. She co-chaired the Student Group Meetings Committee, which plans monthly activities for the student body in an effort to further school spirit. Nadia summed up her involvement in school activities as an effort to give herself and other students more of a voice. Nadia also spent time tutoring at both Silver Heights Collegiate and Golden Gate Middle School, was active on the cross-country team and in school musicals, and was a member of the Interschool Christian Fellowship.

Outside of school, Nadia served as a volunteer camp counsellor and a volunteer activities worker at a non-profit daycare, and performed volunteer work with the First Mennonite Church, where she was also a member of the youth group. She is also a musician and a music tutor.

Nadia believes that through her involvement in school and community activities, she has become a better-rounded citizen. “In order to live in a caring community,” Nadia noted in her application essay, “one has to actively contribute.” She has certainly done that.

Michael Champagne

(REGION 6) 20 0 4 –20 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T

Winnipeg School Division nominee and Region 6 winner Michael Champagne was a Senior 4 student and student council president at St. John’s High School. One of his school sponsors described him as “a natural leader who has earned the respect of his peers and the adults at the school as someone who not only gets involved, but leads by example.” Michael volunteered or was selected to participate in numerous school-sponsored activities, including Manitoba Alive, human rights workshops, a Student Voice Project, the Asper Centre Holocaust and Human Rights Program, and the Winnipeg School Division Harmony and Diversity Symposium. Michael also served as the student representative on the school’s parent council.

Michael was involved in the Army Cadets for a number of years, and was second-in-command and in charge of developing leadership potential in others at the time of his nomination. He worked as a daycare volunteer, and packed and delivered hampers for Winnipeg Harvest. Michael was also a member of the 83rd Youth Parliament in 2004, where he participated in the drafting and debate of legislation.

When asked what citizenship meant to him, Michael replied that “It means being a leader and making my community and my little piece of the world a better place. Citizenship means setting high standards, and persevering through the ups and downs. Citizenship is leadership.” Michael has clearly demonstrated that he is both a leader and an exemplary citizen.

15

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS The following financial highlights have been extracted from the Manitoba Association of School Trustees audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2005. The complete financial statements, including the auditor’s report signed by KPMG LLP, Chartered Accountants, will be available at the MAST Annual Convention in March 2006.

THE MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES Statement of Operations Year ended June 30, 2005 with comparative figures for 2004

2005

2004

Revenue M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

Membership and administration fees

$

1,767,757

$

1,694,461

Other

270,443

340,204

2,038,200

2,034,665

Expenditures Excess of revenue over expenditures

$

1,937,283 100,917

1,925,556

$

109,109

2005

2004

THE MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES Statement of Financial Position June 30, 2005, with comparative figures for 2004

Assets Current assets

$

Investments

$

1,182,825

Capital assets

312,432

234,545 852,829

211,137

230,624

$

1,706,394

$

1,317,998

$

656,121

$

367,968

Deferred contributions

117,477

118,151

Net assets

932,796

831,879

Liabilities, Deferred Contributions and Net Assets Current liabilities

16

$

1,706,394

$

1,317,998

2005–2006 MAST Provincial Executive

MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES Provincial Executive (2005–2006) President Ruth Ann Furgala (EVERGREEN S.D.)

Vice-Presidents Yolande Dupuis (DIVISION SCOLAIRE FRANCO-MANITOBAINE) 20 0 4 –20 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T

Tom Parker (LOUIS RIEL S.D.)

Past President Garry Draper (FORT LA BOSSE S.D.)

Directors Region 1:

Joan Clement (PARK WEST S.D.)

Region 2:

Hilda Froese (GARDEN VALLEY S.D.)

Region 3:

Eleanor Zieske (SUNRISE S.D.)

Region 4:

Linda Buchanan (KELSEY S.D.)

Region 5:

Linda Archer (ST. JAMES-ASSINIBOIA S.D.) Wayne Ruff (LOUIS RIEL S.D.)

Region 6:

Tony Antonio (WINNIPEG S.D.)

17

MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES Staff Member Services and Administration Carolyn Duhamel Executive Director

Heather Demetrioff Manager, Communication, Education and Advocacy Services

Sheila Raffey Manager, Finance and Administration

Keith Thomas

M A N I T O B A A S S O C I AT I O N O F S C H O O L T R U S T E E S

Risk Manager

Barb Unrau Executive Assistant

Jennifer Esau Administrative Assistant

Jacinthe Cotnoir Secretary

Andrea Kehler Receptionist

Labour Relations Craig Wallis Director

Joe Trubyk George Coupland Justin Rempel Marcie MacDonald Labour Relations Consultants

Cindy Hluszok Labour Relations Assistant

Deborah Schultz Secretary

18

STATEMENT OF INTEGRITY FOR THE MANITOBA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL TRUSTEES The Executive, association staff and MAST committee appointees recognize and accept their collective responsibility to represent and support all member school boards in a balanced and effective manner.

Moreover, they must endeavour to shape and strengthen public education in Manitoba through representation of school boards’ perspectives to Government, stakeholder groups and the general public.

We commit, therefore,

to devote sufficient time, thought and study to Association duties so as to render effective and credible service on behalf of member school boards and strive to be knowledgeable on those local, provincial and national issues which impact on one’s Association responsibilities;

2.

to respect the provisions of the MAST Act and the approved by-laws, policies, and procedures of the Association, as well as the laws and regulations governing education in Manitoba, whenever discharging Association responsibilities;

3.

to make decisions only after careful examination and consideration of all available facts, data and perspectives on an issue, mindful of the effect decisions may have upon the rights and needs of the Association’s member school boards, and upon the education, training, safety and general future of the students of Manitoba;

4.

to respect the majority decisions of the Executive and/or committee, reserving the right to seek changes to these decisions in the future through ethical and constructive channels;

5.

to work with colleagues and partners in a spirit of respect, openness and co-operation, encouraging the free exchange of diverse views on any topic at all times, and expressing any contrary opinions in a respectful and constructive manner;

6.

to ensure that all Association funds are used efficiently, economically and in the best interest of member school boards and public education in Manitoba;

7.

to respect the strict confidentiality of all privileged information received in the conduct of Association business;

8.

to avoid any situation which suggests a conflict of interest or the appearance of impropriety in the performance of his/her Association responsibilities;

9.

to respect the role of the MAST President or his/her designate as the primary public spokesperson for the Association and recognize his/her responsibilities to articulate the official policy of the Association when representing the Association; and

20 0 4 -20 0 5 A N N U A L R E P O R T

1.

10. to recognize the authority and responsibility of the Executive Director or his/her designate to administer the normal operations of the MAST office.

19

191 Provencher Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba R2H 0G4 phone 204-233-1595 or 1-800-262-8836 (toll-free in Manitoba) fax 204-231-1356 www.mast.mb.ca

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