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Kootenay Lake school board approves 2013-2014 calendar, considers moving pro-d day

School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) trustees considered moving a Sept. 20 professional development day to either Sept. 3 or Oct. 24.
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At Tuesday's regular meeting of the School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) board of education at the Creston Education Centre, trustees considered moving a professional development (pro-d) day currently scheduled for Sept. 20 to either Sept. 3 or Oct. 24.

Supt. Jeff Jones and innovative learning services director Andy Leathwood preferred the option of Sept. 3, currently slated to be the first day of the 2013-2014 school year.

“It’s a great time for schools to get together and talk about learning for year,” said Leathwood.

“I think it is really is helpful ... to get that focus on the instructional core and bring people together as teams,” said Jones.

If the Oct. 24 option is chosen, it would be added to an Oct. 25 professional-development day, which could make it easier for teachers to travel to a Provincial Specialist Association conference in Vancouver.

“I’m shocked that the board is considering a travel day as a pro-d,” said Creston Valley Teachers Association president Rebecca Blair, when the board asked for her opinion.

The board approved the current calendar for submission to the ministry, and instructed staff to consult with schools to find out which was the preferred date.

In the public comment portion at the end of the meeting, Blair reminded the staff that only the teachers association president could speak on behalf of teachers, and that a CVTA representative should be present at calendar discussions, which could be considered a bargaining issue.