MINUTES OF THE HALIFAX DISTRICT PTA
May 25, 1998

PRESENT:    Karen Robinson    CASLE
            John Sparling     Burton Ettinger
            Ian Watt          Springvale
            Pam Gasparetti    Halifax West
            Shirley Marchand  NSTU
            David Driscoll    Halifax Regional School Board
            Stella Campbell     "         "      "      "
            Jim Houston         "         "      "      "
            Carolyn MacFarlane  "         "      "      "
            Peter Crowell     Grosvenor Wentworth
            Bev Johnstone     PAPE
            Terry Toner        "
            Lena Diab         parent
            Cheryl Kozey      Westmount

          Call To Order
	The meeting was held at Oxford School and called to order by Dick
Tilley, Co-Chair, at 7:35 P.M.  He apologised for missing the previous
meeting and thanked Cheryl for chairing.

Minutes of April 20th meeting read and approved.
 
Business Arising from The Minutes:
	re supplementary funding:  Cheryl announced an effective letter
and phone campaign in support of  supplementary funding.  Many people
called their councillors.  We recognise the need for better dialogue
between the Municipal Council and the School Board on what these funds are
spent on.  Peter Crowell reported a conversation with  Concillor Stone who
expressed himself as adamant that the funding should be cut to force
accountability.  Cheryl reported that $11.6million was collected.  
Apparently, any supplemental funds collected that are not handed over as
such are used to offset the mandatory funding required by the Province from
the Municipality.  
 

Treasurer’s report:  3 new cheques have recently been received.  Reminders
were sent out in the last 3 weeks.  Dues have been received from 25 of a
possible 38 member schools.  The cheque to the Nova Scotia Home and School
Association was cashed in January and we have yet to receive any
correspondence from this organisation.  Ian reported that he had some
correspondence which he would forward to Dick along with a contact name.

School Board Meetings:  The school board has sent neither agendas nor
minutes as they had promised.  No one from the HDPTA has lately appeared
in person at a School Board Meeting. 

Report by CASLE Representative:  Karen Robinson, a representative of
"Citizens for Safe Learning Environments" presented her report, a copy of
which is attached to these minutes.
There are new regulations in the works which are held up at the political
level because of the fear of the cost of upgrades, perhaps.  The School
Board Environmental Management Committee is working on policies to be
implemented across the board.  In the meantime, policies from other boards
are in place.



General Meeting with School Board Representatives


Present:          David Driscoll
                  Stella Campbell
                  Carolyn MacFarlane
                  Jim Houston

	The main topic of discussion was, of course, the future of
supplementary funding.  The HDPTA was thanked for their lobbying efforts. 
There was some confusion as to the actual status of this funding at the
time of this meeting.  Some present reported media reports that definitely
stated that the funds would not be cut while others, including Mr. Driscoll,
said that they understood that the vote was simply delayed and that no
final decision had been made.  Apparently, the Council is waiting to hear
what the mandatory rate will be.  Any amount of supplementary funding not
handed over as such could be used to offset the mandatory funding and
would go into the general school board budget. It was reported that Mayor
Fitzgerald was perceived as trying to speak from the chair to support a
cut to Supplementary Funding.  There was some positive movement perceived
in the county councillors.  It is hoped that they may be coming around to
the idea of encouraging the implementation of supplementary funding in
their areas.
	The school board members all expressed some frustration with the
Province’s imposing secrecy on the Board preventing them from discussing
budget questions with parents.  They were, however, glad to report that
all programs are expected to be in place for next year.  The Board has
struck a finance committee chaired by Jim Houston.
	Stella Campbell provided us with a report showing how some of the
funds will be reallocated next year .  Some supplemental monies used to
fund non program expenses have been moved to programming.  Additional
funds should be made available to individual schools in the former city
to enhance programs in the schools.
	In general, however, it was felt that the board, although in
better shape than a few months ago, is still underfunded and that this
has to have an ultimate effect on students in the classroom.

The meeting ended with a spirited discussion with NSTU representative
about staffing practices  in the schools.  Principals submit their
requirements to Human Resources and are told who has the job.  The school
is not given a choice.  Parents are not part of the process in any way,
which disturbs many who have worked so hard toward a site based system.
The use of seniority as the primary criteria for filling vacancies does
not sit well with many parents.

Meeting adjourned at 9:15 PM.  Next meeting to be held June 15th.