Lakehead Public School trustees have extended the time students can stay away from the classroom.
The public board trustees passed the extended fieldtrip policy at the regular scheduled board meeting on Tuesday. The report submitted on Oct. 11 states that extending fieldtrips allowed students a better chance to expand and reinforce concepts learned in the classroom. It would also make learning more interesting and relevant.
Not all programs were affected by the policy change. Programs at Kingfisher Lake Outdoor Education Centre aren’t considered to be extended fieldtrips.
Ian MacRae, superintendent of Education, said it was a good idea to extend fieldtrips because it offered students outside of the classroom opportunities to participate in a variety of activities.
“It just provides another dimension to their education,” MacRae said. “We have had these policies in place and this is a refinement of the existing policy and it takes into account some of the changes and circumstances that we find students in these days given the social and economic climate that’s out there. It’s an attempt to give all students with opportunities to participate in these activities.”
MacRae said parents are facing tough economic times so in addition to the extended fieldtrip times the board also looked at revised fees. The board made changes in the fall on how students could be subsidized if their situations prevented them from affording these kinds of trips.
The board also approved the annual short-term borrowing resolution for the 2011-2012 school year. The board has to approve the policy every year to ensure they know how much they can borrow.
Kathy Pozihun, superintendent of business, said while the board rarely borrows money, it’s important to have that option just in case. The last time the board used a line of credit was during the construction of Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute.
She said the board is able to borrow an amount that doesn’t exceed the sum of $10 million at one time or $64 million cumulatively by way of a promissory note of the board payable no later than of August 2012.
“If the board is going to be entering into any contracts such as if we are going to be building schools or major capital retrofits and stuff like that then sometimes funding doesn’t come until the following year,” Pozihun said. “You are going to have to establish a borrowing or a loan with the bank. It is used very rarely because the Ministry of Education provides you with cash each month for regular operations at the school board.”
Other business that arose from the meeting was the appointments to the Lakehead District School Board Aboriginal Education Advisory Committee as well as appointments to the Parent Involvement Committee.
