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.a u a a j School boards spending too much time tracking moneyeducation commision B y D e n n is S m ith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER Proposals for increased accountability at school boards are welcomed by a Halton public school official -- provided enough resources are available. The Education Im provem ent Commission report released Thursday rec ommended numerous accountability mea sures, such as having performance report cards for individual schools and boards. Com m ission m em bers believe having greater accountability is the best way to improve O ntario's education system and raise student achievement. The group indi vidually review ed the province's school boards last year. "W hen we did our reviews, we were struck by the fact that school boards could readily tell us how they were doing finan cially, but were at a bit of a loss when it came to the achievement o f the children," said EIC co-chair Dave Cooke. `T h is should change." The review group stated boards must communicate more fully the facts affecting students' performance and circumstances affecting them. These factors could include attendance, students' destinations after high school, parental participation, community programs in schools and gender differences. The commission's recommendations are non-binding, but the provincial government may choose to implement them. `T here are ideas here that schools and boards could go ahead and implement," added Beatrice Schriever, an EIC communi cations planner. "They don't require legisla tion." The commission has recommended prin cipals and boards distribute annual report cards on school and board performance. It has also proposed they publish school and board improvement plans each year. The EIC further suggested an indepen dent agency conduct reviews of school boards focusing on the question, "How suc cessful is this board in reaching a high level of student achievement?" Dusty Papke, education director of the Halton District School Board, agreed with the concepts of accountability recommenda tions, but felt adequate resources are needed for proper implementation. "When the commission did our review, the amount of work to prepare for that review was incredible," said Papke. "Going through it was a good process for us and accountability is a positive. But we don't have the resources to go through it year after year." He supports report cards for boards, but is concerned about grading individual schools. "I'm not going to condemn that in totali ty, but if you look at School A and School B, they're not necessarily equal," said Papke. "If you can't account for the variables that are in there, you can get a false impression." As for school improvement plans, the Dusty Papke: inadequate resources for yearly review board is already doing those, he said. Some commission recommendations are aimed at also making the provincial govern ment accountable for student achievement. `T h e Ministry of Education is account able for standards and for funding," said EIC co-chair Ann Vanstone. "If schools and boards are responsible for the improvement of their students, then the Minister has the same responsibility province-wide." Other highlights from the commission report include the following recommenda tions: · The Ministry should develop and imple ment a comprehensive accountability frame work for public education for the 2001/2002 year. · The framework should focus on ongo ing improvement of student performance, standards of teaching, the effectiveness of school boards and their spending, and the adequacy of funding. · The Ministry should publish an annual provincial improvement plan outlining its role in helping boards make improvements. · An annual provincial report card should be published by The Educational Quality and Accountability Office focusing on student performance. This would summarize data from individual schools and boards. · School boards and employee groups should recognize responsibility to ensure the education system operates effectively, with students having full access to instructional and extracurricular programs. EA STER SA LE! S c h o o l g e t s l i s t o f d u t i e s s t u d e n t s c a n & c a n 't p e r f o r m B y D e n n is S m ith SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A list of dos and don'ts for student community service work will soon be scrutinized by the Halton District School Board. Under the revised curriculum, students must now perform 40 hours o f com m unity service work during their high school careers. The com m unity service requirement starts with current Grade 9 classes and has been Community service part of curriculum m andated by the M inistry of Education. Individual boards are respon sible for approving lists of what students can and cannot do, according to the board's sec ondary school reform facilitator. `T h ere are types of activities the M inistry said are ineligible," said Bryn Davies, w ho's also principal of the Adult Continuing Education Centre. "They deal with safety, as well as whether something is truly voluntary and not being done on school time." He said boards have been asked to add other ineligible activities and then make a list of what students can do. A board committee looked at guidelines, then the matter was reviewed further through a joint com m ittee with the Halton Catholic District School Board. Davies said the document was given to trustees nearly two weeks ago and is slated to be approved or altered today. Parents and students seem well aware of the community ser vice requirem ents, he said. "They're anxious to get on with it" He has also heard unofficially that L ieutenant-G overnor's medallions will be presented to top volunteers at all Ontario high schools. "W hat our young people do beyond the call is unbelievable," said Davies. `T h e notion of vol unteering is alive and well and the Ministry of Education knows this." "M erm aid Callas" by Lena Liu O il ev ery fram ed picture o n th e w all! Sale starts W ednesday, A p ril 19th and ends Saturday, A p ril 2 2 n d /0 0 Surroundings I 'ataigar Village 126 Cross Avenue OakvUe (805) 842-0610 r Injured cyclist wants bike returned A 57-year old Oakville man is on the mend from his M arch 26th bicycling acci dent, but one thing would make his recov ery complete: the safe return of his bike. John Adrian left his Lees Lane home around 7 p.m. to pick up a newspaper, but at the corner o f Lees and Pinegrove Road he took a bad spill and ended up in a ditch with several cuts to his forehead. A pair of Good Samaritans stopped their car to help him and an ambulance crew soon took Adrian to Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. By the time he was released, he was too shaken up to return to the acci dent scene that evening. Next day, A drian's bicycle was gone. "I use that bike all the time. It's my m ajor way o f getting around," said the Oakville Beaver carrier. "I'd love to have my bike back." The m issing bicycle is three years old, black, with a carrier on the front and a fly-trap on the back. Anyone with information can call Rod Jerred at the Oakville Beaver at 845-3824 ext. 5559. jjfJ O > 2000 CA R A V "" SPO I #510535 1 ^ 1999 CARAVAN 1999 GRAN D CARAVA SP O R T #832967 29N Pkg. · Rear A/C & heat · CD & cass. with 10 Infinity speakers plus 200w amp · Forest green 29N Pkg · Quad seating · Silver · CD & cass. with 10 Infinity speakers plus 200w amp · 10" Aluminum wheels · Front & rear A/C & heat #464522 28D Pkg. · White · Quad seating 1999 GRAND CARAVAN ,, SPO RT #5197 29N Pkg. · Candy apple · 16" Aluminum wheels · Infinity sound 2000 G RA N D CARAVAN SPO RT #542373 29N Pkg. · Aluminum wheels · Shale green · Rear A/C & heat #510531 29N Pkg · Aluminum wheels · Quad seating · Rear A/C & heat · CD & cass. with 10 Infinity speakers plus 200w amp It's awesome!! 7 /mo. 1999 GRJSN CARAVi SPO RT #832968 29N Pkg. · Loaded · Forest green · Rear A/C & heat On Down and Place Y our Onofci T oday! · it * . *' · < V* 2 0 0 0 -------------- SP0 #583665 29N Pkg. · Aqua marine · 16" aluminum wheels · Quad seating · Rear A/C & heating · CD & cass. with 10 Infinity speakers plus 200w amp 2000 INTREPID ES #179978 23L Pkg. · Power roof · Power seat · ABS ·C D · Keyless entry · Aluminum wheels 1999 C H R Y S L E R S E B R IN G LXI CO U PES (Only 2 · Loaded! · Identical twins · Black with camel leather · 17" alum, wheels & low profile tires · 2.5 L V6 · Automatic · AM/FM cass/CD w/lnfinity sound I Q · Power sun roof toowj* Amo. 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