Here are the minutes of the special PAC meeting held on May 1. They are available for download in pdf format here.

ECOLE HEATHER PARK ELEMENTARY PARENT ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday May 1, 2012
Computer Room
Attendance 15 Parents, 1 guest

1. Call to order: 7:00 pm
2. Discussion
• Discussed the 3 possible options for a new playground in the busloop area. There was strong support for creating an accessible playground, but serious concerns about whether we would be able to do the project justice by placing it in the busloop area. The geography/topography of the area would make it very difficult to place an accessible playground there, require lots of additional paved pathways, and Henderson only provides one accessible option for that age group. Option 3 is also not completely accessible as it is a ramp over pea gravel, and doesn’t have a rubber surface.
• Providing an additional playground in the busloop area is a priority, as there are many primary students who use that area and there are too many students for the existing structure.
• The only other area on the school grounds that would be suitable for accessible playground is part of the basketball courts to the back of the school. It may be an option to install a 5th playground, which would be wheelchair accessible in that spot. That would be an additional project which would need to be planned separately, and would require new fundraising, grants etc. PAC may be able to take this on next year.
• If we want to have the playground installed this summer, we need to make a decision at this meeting, and then present it at the Ed Services meeting next week.
• Motion: Cindy moved that the PAC purchase the Little Shippy playground, and install it on pea gravel in the busloops for a cost of up to $25,000. Seconded by Sharri. Carried
• Motion: Brad moved that the PAC strike a working group to move forward with creating an accessible playground on the basket ball court area. Tami seconded. Carried.
• Jane Major and Hazel volunteered to be on the working group
• Action: Danielle will contact the Hintons to discuss further.
3. Meeting adjourned at 8:10

Here are the minutes of the general PAC meeting held on April 18. You can download them in pdf format from here.

The Treasurer’s report is available here.

The DPAC report is available here.

The Safety report is available here.

Ecole Heather Park Elementary Parent Advisory Council Meeting
Wednesday April 18, 2012
École Heather Park Elementary – Computer Room

Attendance: 11 parents, 0 guests
Note Canucks Game tonight

1. Call to Order: 7:00 pm
2. Review of Minutes: March 14th meeting minute were reviewed.
• Motion: Cindy moved to approve the minutes. Seconded by Pam. Carried
3. Administrative Information
• Lesley reviewed the standard admin procedures for PAC meetings:
4. Treasurer’s Report & Funding Requests
• Reviewed our financial status as of March 31, 2012.
• Financial review committee report
• Books very well done. A pleasure to review. Commendation to Leanne
5. Playground Enhancement Project
• Discussion of options.
• Explained decision to restart the planning process. Exec was not happy with older options presented by Henderson so asked for new younger options.
• Have 3 playgrounds for older kids once Austin road moved to site.
• General agreement that the direction is OK.
• Steve explained the move of Austin Road to Heather Park site. Preferred option to move AR playground to city property was not supported by Bryan Mix. Now option is to move AR playground to area next to area where Springwood playground was moved to last year.
• Suggestion made to write letter to Tim Bennett regarding lack of drainage and sloughing of slope behind the school.
6. DPAC Update
• Sarah provided report.
7. Safety Committee Update
• A written summary was reviewed.
8. Bylaws
• Notice of motion for next meeting to reduce quorum to 8.
• Discussion about how to get more participation. Suggestion made to put bookmark like notice into planners on morning of PAC meeting. Discussion of incentive prizes.
• Gift card for Princess Auto for any guy who attends and brings another guy suggested.
9. Principal’s Forum
• Budget and staffing plan being developed. Not detailed work at this time of year because of changes that can occur before September. Estimated enrolment numbers for next year presented 559 current number.
• Glenview and Hart Highlands have caps on kindergarten numbers. Not all registrations will have been done. Out of catchment transfers not being approved by Glenview and Hart Highlands because they don’t know what they will have for enrolment. If those transfers are not approved then more Ks and siblings may be coming to Heather Park. Steve believes that we will have more students in September.
• FRIMM numbers are interesting. Next year will have a very small 6/7 split but there is no other way. Steve is looking at a 150 FRIMM students out of a total school population of 600 in a few years.
• Discussion of school budget. Budget is based on conservative enrolment figures and Steve expects the numbers to go up substantially.
• Special Ed funds going down because special needs students moving on. Steve explained special needs funding. Overspent allocation last year by $2-300,000 when all factors are considered including supervision and teaching assistance.
10. Teacher’s Forum
• No teachers present.
11. Fund raising Update
• Online store on hold until fall term. New plan to put online store up at the end of September-early October.
12. Upcoming Events/Volunteering Opportunities
• Friday April 20 – upstairs pizza day
• Tuesday April 24 – F&V day, sliced apples
• Friday May 4 – Downstairs Pizza day – need a volunteer to run pizza day
• Tuesday May 8 – F&V Sweet baby bell peppers
13. Adjourn
• Meeting was adjourned at 8:30 Next meeting Wednesday May 16 @ 6:45pm