Staff
The Rainy River District School Board honoured its retirees during its final regular board meeting of the 2016-17 school year here last Tuesday evening.
Anne Cox, Paul Elliott, Gregery Scott, Gary Broman, Lloyd Lovelace, Rod Enns, Kim Basaraba, and Cam Keast all were recognized as retiring this spring.
Susan Sieders and Maureen Hahkala also retired this year.
As well, Beverly Arpin, Lorina Fryer, Diane Rumbolt-Carlson, Pam Van Heyst, Kristy Cameron, Edward Ojala, Shaunna Sekulich, and David Kerr were honoured for attaining 25 years of service with the board.
Two Volunteer of the Year awards also were presented at last Tuesday’s meeting.
Selena Vanasse of Rainy River helped out on every hot lunch day at Riverview School.
She also filled in when the hot lunch co-ordinator was unable to make it.
Jimmy Warren of Atikokan, meanwhile, volunteered to supervise every winter trip of the Outers program at Atikokan High School.
He also assisted with the staff safety plan and transporting equipment.
“Volunteers continue to be an indispensable part of the Rainy River District School Board team,” said board chair Dianne McCormack.
“They support and enhance the work of the board; without them, many programs, activities, and events just couldn’t happen,” she stressed.
“We sincerely appreciate all of our volunteers.”
Also last Tuesday, the board heard a presentation of the final staff report of the Modified Student Accommodation Review for Atikokan High School and North Star Community School.
It was recommended the schools be consolidated into a new K-12 school on the AHS site.
The final administrative report can be found on the board’s website, along with background information, tentative site plans, and community feedback.
Delegations to the board are scheduled for a special committee of the whole meeting set for this Monday (June 19) at Atikokan High School.
The board is expected to make a final decision in September.
Also at the meeting, trustees:
•approved the five-year Strategic Plan Goals that will focus on a rich learning agenda and a focus on relationships;
•heard the winning speech from the district speech contest (“The Hill” by Crossroads student Erica Lemelin);
•approved procurement of Chromebooks up to $470,000 (increased from $300,000) to meet an initiative that has been expanded to include Grade 12 students and additional staff (ESP/EAs); and
•read correspondence covering the EQAO, second-language learning, special education funding, and the establishment of a Standards Development Committee for Education.
