2009-05-07
09:57:16
The Ministry of Education says the Rainy River District School Board is well managed.
An operational review conducted found the board has a clear articulate plan for student success, effective budget management and a strong leadership team that communicates effectively and shares a common objective.
Education Director Jack McMaster says he welcomes the findings.
"We see huge value in the report," says McMaster. "It tells us we're doing a very good job in all aspects of the board. It also shows us where we can get better."
The review was one of 72 conducted across the province in January. Four functional areas were reviewed: Governance and School Board Administration; Financial Management; Human Resources Management and School Staffing/Allocation; and School Operations and Facilities Management.
The report also highlighted a number of leading practices established by the Board, and makes recommendations for key opportunities for improvement. The Board is noted for key leading practices in Governance and School Board Administration.
Chair of the Board Dan Belluz was involved in the thorough review. He too was pleased with the outcome as it confirms his belief that this Board is functioning as expected in the Education Act.
“Our trustees understand their role and work together to ensure that the Rainy River District School Board has the appropriate policies to enhance student success," says Belluz. "This review confirms our actions and encourages us to continue to support our staff in our desire to improve learning outcomes for students.”
One area of improvement from the report was that the Board should consider consolidating the business functions (such as human resources, finance and facilities) into the board system plan. This would enable the departments to link their respective operational plans to the annual plan, and align operational goals with an overarching strategic direction.
This is the third audit that the Board has undergone in a three year period, volunteering to pilot the first Operational Review two years ago. The Board also requested that it be one of the first Transportation Reviews, receiving, as a result, an additional $200,000 annually to meet transportation needs.
