BorderLandTeachers

ALT A list of things parents from this election: More funding for specialists More focus on achievement More guidance counselors Smaller class sizes No more cuts to programs Resources for students with disabilities Funding for rural schools Safe and inclusive classrooms Arts programming Schools that prioritize student health Nutrition programs Building maintenance 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion Libraries and librarians

ALT The school community council may - review and recommend ways in which the school can meet the needs of the community it serves, - assist the school effectiveness, in assessing program - analyse student achievement of learning outcomes and determine how and by when those outcomes are to be improved, - recommend the need for performance evaluations of the provincial education authority employees, - recommend the hiring of teachers and staff at the school, - review and recommend priority capital construction projects for the school, - review and recommend priorities and policies for the school, - make recommendations transportation, and about student h make recommendations about the use of suspensions and expulsions as disciplinary tools at the school.

ALT School absenteeism problem not so simple The Manitoba government has released its latest action plan for students called Safe and Caring Schools: A Policy Directive and Action Plan to Enhance Student Presence and Engagement. In summary, the plan acknowledges the many issues that contribute to attendance issues for students. Things like poor health or poor mental health, work responsibilities, homelessness and the accompanying issues it brings. These are real issues for students across the province, the kind of issues that require real life supports — basic needs like food, housing, medical assistance. Many students who are struggling to attend school want to be there, but they’ve worked a full nightshift to help support their family. Or they haven’t had a proper meal in several days and now feel ill. Or they have made it to school the entire week and by Friday have run out of money for bus fare.

ALT It’s unlikely that these students, who want to go to school but who are facing these real-life challenges, are watching TV commercials and saying to themselves, “Gee, if I just plan what I want to wear tomorrow and pre-make my lunch, then I’ll get to school, no problem.” Of course not. Our students who are facing chronic absenteeism need us, including our government, to step up and start meeting their needs so that they can attend school regularly and have a chance at a life out of poverty. When we commit to providing necessary nutrition to sustain our children, affordable housing so our families can thrive and easily accessible medical and mental health services, that’s when we will have success in student attendance. Instead of an advertising campaign that won’t be seen by most of the target audience, maybe we should focus our dollars on giving educators the tools to “locally develop strategies that are responsive to the community, school and classroom needs”.