SD8 Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan
The School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) Strategic Plan 2024-2029 was approved by the Board of Education on May 9 and implementation began on July 1, 2023. Check out the one-page overview of the plan and watch a video of our engagement journey!
Our Engagement Journey
See our Public and Partner Input section on this page to read through verbatim input organized by five strategic priorities.
Many thanks to our Mount Sentinel Secondary School Academy PM students and teacher Jacy Schindel for producing this video. Thanks to District Principal Tamara Malloff for narration.
Our strategic plan sets SD8's mission, vision and priorities for 2024 through 2029. It will serve as a road map to ensure all partners in K-12 education work together so that all learners are enabled to develop their individual potential and acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be successful.
Thank you for participating!
Strategic Plan
The School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) Strategic Plan 2024-2029 was approved by the Board of Education on May 9 and implementation began on July 1, 2023. Check out the one-page overview of the plan and watch a video of our engagement journey!
Our Engagement Journey
See our Public and Partner Input section on this page to read through verbatim input organized by five strategic priorities.
Many thanks to our Mount Sentinel Secondary School Academy PM students and teacher Jacy Schindel for producing this video. Thanks to District Principal Tamara Malloff for narration.
Our strategic plan sets SD8's mission, vision and priorities for 2024 through 2029. It will serve as a road map to ensure all partners in K-12 education work together so that all learners are enabled to develop their individual potential and acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be successful.
Thank you for participating!
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Student Success
about 1 year agoCLOSED: Ideas gathering has concluded.The District’s role is to ensure that students have the ability to think and learn, foster a lifelong appreciation of learning, a curiosity about the world and the capacity for creative thought and expressions.
How could SD8 foster this?
Submit your ideas. You can include photos in your submissions if you wish. You can post as many ideas as you like and/or contribute by voting on other people's ideas.
Please indicate which partner group you are member of (KLTF, Indigenous partner, LKB, DPAC, teacher, student, school leader, community member, parent, support staff, etc.) and which family of schools you belong to (Creston, Salmo, Nelson, Kaslo, Crawford Bay, Slocan Valley). This is completely optional but will help us understand the level of participation from partner groups and from our families of schools.
Anonymous Educatorabout 1 year agoBetter CUPE Compensation
CUPE staff are the heart of our schools. Better pay for CUPE staff and more CUPE staff will make our schools better places for students and all staff. We really need more EAs in the schools. Neighbouring districts pay and treat CUPE workers better and I would love to see SD8 be a workplace of choice instead of losing EAs and custodians, etc. to nearby districts.
22Laura Habout 1 year agoNegotiate a fair deal with CUPE 748
Meet the demands of our CUPE K-12 staff already! There are so many ways to spend the SD8 Budget... but for our family, the fair compensation and working conditions for the support staff is a place where our money goes far! living wages keep staff in their jobs, which keeps our kiddos happy and connected to great adults. Pinch your pennies elsewhere SD8 !
13Annaabout 1 year agoRecycling and reduction of garbage....It is crazy that nothing is happening right now.
Kids need to see that the schools are doing their part.
7Patabout 1 year agoTruly help develop students' unique gifts: Where would the world be without tradespeople, artists, entrepreneurs and professionals, and etc
In spite of much rhetoric, there is still too much focus on limited pathways to success and not enough focus on a comprehensive education which ultimately enriches individuals and communities.
26Mary Jayneover 1 year agoTeach indigenous world view. Project based learning and get students outside to have meaningful interactions with nature as their teacher!
Through indigenous world view, a culture of care and community includes caring for the land and water we depend on for life. Through our schools, children should develop a working knowledge of the lands, waters, plants and animals of the Kootenays as well as the indigenous teachings of how to live in harmony with this land. Elder society teachings bring elders and knowledge keepers into learning circles so children can learn and be inspired by those who are masters. When we support children to engage as protectors of the circle of life, we support them to deal with feelings of helplessness at the condition of the world and remind them that we all have a roll and part to play in healing our society from our colonial history and trauma.
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Teaching and Learning
about 1 year agoCLOSED: Ideas gathering has concluded.The District’s role is to ensure that students develop a sense of self-worth and personal initiative, that they value and honour diversity, as well the significance of physical well-being, and are leaving school prepared for their future.
How could SD8 support this?
Submit your ideas. You can include photos in your submissions if you wish. You can post as many ideas as you like and/or contribute by voting on other people's ideas.
Please indicate which partner group you are member of (KLTF, Indigenous partner, LKB, DPAC, teacher, student, school leader, community member, parent, support staff, etc.) and which family of schools you belong to (Creston, Salmo, Nelson, Kaslo, Crawford Bay, Slocan Valley). This is completely optional but will help us understand the level of participation from partner groups and from our families of schools.
Janeabout 1 year agoAllow more outdoor, community and environmental learning.
What better way to increase students' sense of well being and self-worth than by bringing them OUT of the classroom to experience themselves in the context of their environment and their communities? This needs to be fostered and made simple for staff and teachers, rather than discouraged through hyper risk-management policies and paperwork.
13Farrahover 1 year agoInvesting MUCH more money into technology. Hiring more IT staff.
9Sheriabout 1 year agoInvestigate why elem students have lower student satisfaction & wellness than prov average while academic results (FSA) have been improving
Determine and address causes
0Patabout 1 year agoAsk and communicate HOW the district is developing the above. What evidence do you have that students are leaving prepared for their future.
6Sheriabout 1 year agoStudent satisfaction & wellness stats quite concerning for elementary students, especially wrt mental (secondary too) & physical health.
These needs must be prioritized and addressed so that students are better able to learn and mature.
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Reconciliation
about 1 year agoCLOSED: Ideas gathering has concluded.The District’s role is to support success for Indigenous students and further Reconciliation.
How could SD8 demonstrate support for Indigenous student success and foster Reconciliation?
Submit your ideas. You can include photos in your submissions if you wish. You can post as many ideas as you like and/or contribute by voting on other people's ideas.
Please indicate which partner group you are member of (KLTF, Indigenous partner, LKB, DPAC, teacher, student, school leader, community member, parent, support staff, etc.) and which family of schools you belong to (Creston, Salmo, Nelson, Kaslo, Crawford Bay, Slocan Valley). This is completely optional but will help us understand the level of participation from partner groups and from our families of schools.
Carolabout 1 year agoLead by example. Less hierarchy in Sd8 would be a start.
Create opportunities for administrators to learn from teachers how needs in their schools could be met. This would require open, authentic communication.
11Sashaabout 1 year agoTruth and reconciliation incorporated into the curriculum
I think sd8 does a pretty good job of acknowledging the indigenous heritage of the area we live, but I think that being able to acknowledge what has happened and how we can reconcile should be a part of the curriculum.
2LSBabout 1 year agoavoid repeating colonial violence: mitigate infectious disease transmission to keep schools accessible even for the most vulnerable students
infectious disease transmission is colonial violence
4jhonabout 1 year agomore indigenous learning for non-indigenous students.
3Auroraabout 1 year agoHow can you talk about reconciliation when you are excluding Autonomous Sinixt?
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Budget and Operations
about 1 year agoCLOSED: Ideas gathering has concluded.The District must ensure that it is operationally sound and fiscally responsible while ensuring excellence for all students.
How could SD8 ensure this?
Submit your ideas. You can include photos in your submissions if you wish. You can post as many ideas as you like and/or contribute by voting on other people's ideas.
Please indicate which partner group you are member of (KLTF, Indigenous partner, LKB, DPAC, teacher, student, school leader, community member, parent, support staff, etc.) and which family of schools you belong to (Creston, Salmo, Nelson, Kaslo, Crawford Bay, Slocan Valley). This is completely optional but will help us understand the level of participation from partner groups and from our families of schools.
Chuckabout 1 year agoPrivatize bussing. A company can come and rent sd8 busses. Far less expensive than paying for drivers and upkeep.
1SD8 Employeeabout 1 year agoNo Trickle Down
Increase the amount of money reaching schools. Too much money is being spent at the district level while school infrastructure and furnishings are crumbling. The number of senior administrative positions (Directors and District PVP) continues to expand and student success is dropping.
20Emersonabout 1 year agoBring back the belt
More belts
3SD8 Employeeabout 1 year agoDirection of the District
Trustees are the employer. If the district is not functioning properly or is not going in a positive direction, difficult and courageous decisions need to be made. SD8 is known province wide as a place NOT to apply for work. In fact, we lose more teachers and CUPE support staff to neighbouring districts every year. This is not okay. Perhaps it is time to look at the contracts of those running things.
10Lisaabout 1 year agoQuestion why enrolment is declining...Are there less kids or just more options not in SD8?
Maybe SD8 needs to examine their offerings to adjust to what parents and students are demanding and finding elsewhere. There are at least 6 ) that I know of, blended learning programs in the Nelson/Kaslo/Slocan Valley areas, mostly outdoor based class days and home based non-class days all administered by other school districts (Heartwood and IDLC). Ask yourselves why all these families have chosen not to enrol in any of the programs offered at SD8. My experience has been the needs of these children are not being met in any of the existing options at sd8. Additionally the former AI Collison School is now a Francophone school so that is another ~100 FTE no longer in SD8.
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Follow Project
Final Strategic Plan and One-Pager
Lifecycle
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Phase 1 - Inquire - Pre-engagement Quick Polls - December 2022
SD8 Strategic Plan has finished this stageTwo quick polls to gather preliminary information before consultation begins.
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Phase 2 - Imagine and Inspire - Strategic Plan Public Engagement Open - January 2023
SD8 Strategic Plan has finished this stageThis consultation is open for contributions.
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Phase 2 - Public Engagement Results Under Review - Late February 2023
SD8 Strategic Plan has finished this stageContributions to this consultation are closed for evaluation and review. The project team will report back on key outcomes.
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Phase 2 - Strategic Plan Public Engagement Report - April 2023
SD8 Strategic Plan has finished this stageThe final outcomes of the engagement process are documented and shared on this project page.
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Phase 2 - Draft Strategic Plan Review- April 2023
SD8 Strategic Plan has finished this stageThe draft strategic plan is shared with partners and adjusted based on feedback. The public comment period is open until May 8, 2023.
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Phase 3 - Initiate and Celebrate - Strategic Plan Presentation - May 2023
SD8 Strategic Plan has finished this stageFinal strategic plan presented at a meeting of the Board held in public.
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Plan Implementation Underway
SD8 Strategic Plan is currently at this stageOur new strategic plan is incorporated into our enhancing student learning objectives, our school plans, our budget process, our operational plans and revisited each year to gauge our success in following our strategic priorities.
Who's Listening
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School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake)
Phone 2503526681 Email board.education@sd8.bc.ca
Public and Partner Input
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Strategic Priority: Empowered, Lifelong Learners
- StratPlanInput_EmpoweredLifelongLearners_StudentSuccess_final.pdf (282 KB) (pdf)
- StratPlanInput_EmpoweredLifelongLearners_TeachingLearning_final.pdf (262 KB) (pdf)
- StratPlanInput_EmpoweredLifelongLearners_Reconciliation_final.pdf (221 KB) (pdf)
- StratPlanInput_EmpoweredLifelongLearners_BudgetOperations_final.pdf (250 KB) (pdf)
- Strategic Priority: Connected Learners
- Strategic Priority Caring and Inclusive Learning Culture
- Strategic Priority: Cultural and Identity Development
- Strategic Priority: Career Development