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By Tom Mark

Vernon School Studying Watson Report

Mar 19, 2018 | 8:08 AM

School Boards around the province are looking at how to implement recommendations of the Watson report that came out 2 years ago.

It addresses specific concerns surrounding the North Okanagan-Shuswap school district after it’s board was dissolved by the province and replaced by an official trustee.

But some recommendations apply to all school boards, including the Vernon School Board.

“And so it’s taken awhile to determine, you know which ones the government is going to force us to do and now they have established that, so by June they will all be done. And the next group is now which ones will each community like to do.”

Vernon School Board Chair Kelly Smith trustees have not had time to go through the list, but are working to come to a resolution next month.

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“what each trustee will do is go down that list, determine which ones they feel are important to our community and then we will come together again in April to deal with those recommendations. Then staff will go off and work towards completion.”

Special Advisor Liz Watson’s recommendations are designed to bring more structure and transparency to school boards.

Local trustees are looking at such issues as the role of the board Chair, board competency, trustee gtrauining and evaluation and financial and operational policies and procedures.

by Tom Mark

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