Superintendent's Monthly Message

April 2008

The Superintendent's Report for April focuses on the roles and responsibilities of our Human Resources Department. A brief overview of the primary functions of this Department will serve to demonstrate the integral presence of HR throughout the entire Board as it accentuates the importance of people and their contributions to all parts of our organization.

The arrival of spring brings with it one of the busiest times of year for the HR Department - the annual staffing process for administrators, teachers, and educational assistants across our 21 schools. Upon approval of the provincial budget for the department of Education, the Board receives confirmation of the number of teaching positions and EA positions approved for 2008-09. Senior staff at the Board level, who have already met with individual school principals to review projected school populations and individual grade/class sizes as well as any special or unique educational requirements, then assign specific numbers of teaching positions to each school which the principal uses to create a timetable/schedule for the coming year. Once each school has identified its staffing needs for the coming year, a staffing process is used to transfer or hire qualified staff to meet those particular needs. This process usually begins in late April and extends into June or even July for the final placements. While the administrator and teacher staffing process is underway, the Student Services Team, who met previously with staff at each school to discuss special needs and situations, meet with senior administrative staff to determine the number of Educational Assistants that will be assigned to each school. The assignment of support hours to each school is based exclusively on the needs of students and each year generally brings a number of personnel transfers or new hires based on these needs. To respond to these changes, the HR Department works cooperatively with the Union to facilitate the transfers and placement of EAs at each school. By the end of June, schools and individuals know the assignments for the coming year.

The administration of contracts with and for our employees is a major function of the HR Department that extends throughout the year. From participation in the actual negotiation of agreements to the management of various benefits and provisions of the contracts, it is the HR Department that has responsibility for responding to the queries and requests from staff. From interpretation of language to approval of requests under the terms of the contracts, the HR Department work with Teacher Federation staff as well as the Educational Assistants and Youth Service Workers who belong to the Canadian Union of Public Employees. [Note: Our Maintenance, Custodial, Transportation and Administrative Assistants/Clerical staff also belong to a CUPE Local but these employees fall under the Business Services Department.

Within the Western School Board, three of the Directors also have responsibilities for direct liaison with a group of schools. In this capacity, the Director of HR would regularly consult with individual principals over matters involving students, parents, and/or staff as well as the general operation of the school - from financial management to maintenance concerns to curriculum and program requirements and demands. Each Director is responsible for the performance review of the school principal and also provides advice and support to the principal in his/her own evaluation and supervision of staff. Another primary area of involvement for the Director of HR involves the School Development activities that currently exist in 17 of our schools and, by next fall, will include all 21 schools. While the day-today planning and support for this initiative is a responsibility of our Board Principal, Laura Cudmore, the Director of HR collaborates with Laura at a system planning level as well as representing our interests at provincial meetings and discussions around this process. This work, in concert with specific involvement in the planning of professional development for school administrators - leadership programs and opportunities for both principals and vice-principals, ensures a commitment by the Board to continued professional growth as an expectation for all staff.

Among other tasks which fall under the Director of Human Resource Services and his role as a member of our Senior Management Team: student transfers, school cancellation/delay (inclement weather), student enrolment patterns and projections, liaison with Board-level Department Heads for Physical Education and Music, extra-curricular program liaison with the PEI School Athletic Federation, and administration of the Board's Professional Development Fund for teachers.. He also works with the other Directors in the administration of board-wide testing programs and other initiatives arising out of the Minister's Task Force on Student Achievement.

Hoping this overview may provide a more informed opinion of the work of this Department, I am respectfully,
Dale C. Sabean
Superintendent of Education

SPECIAL NOTE: Congratulations to the many students and staff who:

• participated in the recent Science Fairs, Heritage Fairs, and Skills Canada competitions.
• received grants from ArtsSmarts and the wonderful projects being completed with these monies.
• participated in the many sports, music, and drama events occurring over the past few months.
• continue to support many of our national, provincial and community organizations and groups in the area of charitable fund-raising
• consistently demonstrate a commitment to academic excellence and dedication to doing the 'best' job possible!