Portage Collegiate Institute Parent Council  

                                                                                                Annual General Meeting

                                                                                            Monday, October 16, 2006

In Attendance; Shauna-Lei Leslie, Jim Pehura, Gay Patry, Kinelm Brookes, Holly Brookes, Deb Neufeld, Brenda Neufeld, Larry Neufeld, Rolande Williams, Joyce Giesbrecht, Diane Hamilton, Cheryl Robinson, Sherri Morgan, Preston Meier, Randall Mouricio (CFRY), Mark Diboll, Lori Carpenter, Bev Stanger, and Beth Connery. Regrets; Dawn Froese and Tracey Taylor.

The meeting was called to order by Lori Carpenter at 7:07 pm.

The meeting agenda was presented and there were some additions made to the agenda under new business;  9.3 Administration report, 9.4 in school cameras, and 9.5 Mrs. Cheryl Robinson with a PCI web site demonstration. Kinelm moved to adopt the agenda as amended and Shauna-Lei second. All were in favor.

The minutes of the Annual General Meeting of October 17, 2005 were read and adopted as presented by Kinelm and second Shauna-Lei. All were in favor.

Lori gave the Chairperson’s report. She thanked the administration and staff for being supportive of the Parent Council over the year, for being able to keep the PAC informed on all the happenings in regards to the amalgamation of the high schools and for being able to handle the extra work that went with the restructuring. She also thanked the members of the Parent Council for their support over the past year.

Treasurer’s Report; Shauna-Lei reported that there was $235.87 in the bank, with about $60.00 coming in.

There was no unfinished business.

Elections;

All positions were filled by acclamation.

Co-Chairperson (2^nd year) - Dawn Froese

Co-Chairperson (1^st year) – Kinelm Brookes

 Secretary – Shauna-Lei Leslie

Treasurer – Tracey Taylor

Program Coordinator – Deb Neufeld and Tracey Asham

Volunteer Coordinator – Sherri Morgan and Diane Hamilton

Safety Coordinator – Lori Carpenter

Teacher Representative – Mrs. Gay Patry

Student Representative – Chris Ward

New Business;

Constitution – The draft of the Constitution for the new amalgamated high schools, Portage Collegiate Institute, was presented.

Shauna-Lei moved that the Constitution be moved as per the draft as presented. Deb seconded the motion. All were in favor.

It was suggested that the survey that was sent out to the parents at the beginning of the year be sent out a few weeks later to give parents time to be able to fill in the survey after having their children in the school for awhile. It was felt that some questions could not be effectively answered after a short time.

The MAPC membership is up for renewal, this year the cost is $60.00.

Shauna-Lei moved that the Parent Council renew their membership with MAPC. Deb Neufeld seconded the motion. All were in favor.

Administration Report;  

MTS has been at the school last week and today to add three move telephone lines to the school’s system. There will be a total of 14 lines so that it will be easier to have a call received by the secretary in the office. The synavoice will be up and active within the next few days. An answering machine will be on at all times so that if a call is made to the school a message can be left for attendance purposes. To be able to talk directly to a specific staff member there will be in place a system so that the first three letters of the staff’s last name can be dialed and that will give a direct line to their voice mail. Every teacher now has a computer in their room with their own email address.

The weight room and drama room are almost complete (by end of next week?).

There have been some concerns about parking on the street by students and parents by neighbors in the area. Mark Diboll has walked the area and put notes on vehicles that have been parked there. There doesn’t seem to be a lot but the situation will be watched. Maybe talk to the city about having the area become a no parking zone as there is around the MDC?

The enrollment for the fall term is 1120 students (1075 was the projected number) and 75 adult education students. Staff members total 135.

The office at the PCS building is always open starting at 8am while the PCI building office opens at 8:30am.

The library opens at 8am and closes at 5pm; the students seem to be taking advantage of the opportunity before and after school.

There will be a career open house on Monday, October 30, 2006.

The new electronic sign is up and running and staff will be getting a course run through on how to operate it on Thursday, this week.

The new shop has been approved as presented with in floor heating and 14’ doors. It is hoped that the roof will be up by January. Dual diploma is being encouraged within this area.

Parent/Teacher interviews will be held in November and April. November 16 and 17 will be the dates. Not exactly sure where they will be held, but possibly in the PCS building in the muti-purpose room and the gym.

The dance that was held at the beginning of the year was a success. There were just over 300 students in attendance. The RCMP offered to have a few members in attendance throughout the dance. A new rule was put into place in regards to dances and drinking; along with the AFM counseling, the student will be suspended from all school dances for the rest of the school year.

The Senior boys’ soccer won the Zone and will be attending the Provincials in Altona; they are ranked #1. There are 6 volleyball teams this year and there are the girls and boys hockey teams starting their seasons.

Jay Pauch was named the athlete of the week last week.

Cameras;

The administration is looking into installing cameras within the campus for safety concerns. Information was given to the Council in regards to what the administration is asking for with the installation of cameras. The input of parents is wanted and the administration would like the Safety Coordinator, Lori Carpenter, to report the results to Larry Taylor at the School Division office. 

There would be a total of 48 cameras installed throughout the area, in the hallways, outside, in the school store and the canteen. The cameras would be set up with a recording system which would have a 30 day loop for viewing. Two monitors would be set up, one in Mr. Diboll’s office at the PCS building and one in Mr. Kristi’s office in the PCI building. These will be available for access through any administration’s computer.

Discussion was held in length on how staff viewed having cameras in their work place and how having them would help maintain a safe environment for all those that are within the campus area. Vandalism and theft were also topics that were addressed in regards to having these cameras installed. Any questions or concerns that were had by those present were addressed.

Parents were asked if they would recommend having the cameras installed. All present were in favor of taking a proactive step and recommended that the cameras should be installed.

Lori will write a letter to Larry Taylor with the results.

The minutes of the September minutes were tabled for the next meeting Monday, November 20, 2006 at 7pm.

Those that were interested were invited to stay to view the new web page that Mrs. Robinson was willing to demonstrate.

Meeting adjourned at 8:50pm.