School District 10, April 16: Staff receive nonviolent crisis intervention training

Staff across the district are learning how to prevent, de-escalate, and safely respond to ‘in-distress’ behaviour using Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) training.

Kim Hood, Learning Support Teacher at Nakusp Elementary, completed training in December 2022 to become SD 10’s certified Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) instructor. Hood presented to the board on April 16.

NVCI training helps staff identify physical, emotional, and psychological in-distress behaviour and gives them the confidence to respond to the situation.

“A major focus of the training is what’s called the ‘decision-making matrix,’ which can help to guide and assess the risk of harm to students and staff – both in the moment and after an incident,” Hood said.

An important aspect of NVCI, she said, is making sure students feel supported in these situations, and that they know they are not being punished for reacting in this way.

“If we don’t have this kind of understanding, we can be part of the problem, but with this framework and understanding we can be agents of support instead of triggers,” she said. “Crises will still happen, but hopefully with less intensity and less harm to everyone involved.”

Hood first trained education assistants in October 2023. Principals, vice-principals, and learning support teachers followed in February. Teachers and incoming staff are scheduled for the fall.

The training is offered in a blended format – participants complete an online course one day, and meet in-person on another.

“In-person, they can focus on practicing the physical skills and relating the whole framework to each individual’s work in their individual school,” said Hood. “We’re building confidence for staff as we build our skills. Going forward, I think this will be a cornerstone in preventing, or at least reducing, physical/verbal distress incidents.”

The Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI) began in 1980 and offers training around the world for all sectors – education, social care, and policing, to name a few. Its guiding principles are care, welfare, safety, and security. CPI regularly updates its approaches and techniques in response to evidence-based research and feedback from trainees.

Nakusp early learning

Tim VanBrummelen updated the board on activities at the Nakusp Early Learning Child Care Centre (NELCC).

NELCC opened its doors on February 27, 2023, and has been going strong ever since, said VanBrummelen. Located in Nakusp Elementary School, it provides full-time multi-age and school-aged care, along with before- and after-school programs. It also offers Pro-D daycare, and spring and summer break camps.

Intentionally planned, play-based learning activities focus on where children are developmentally, said VanBrummelen. It is child-centred and parent-engaged.

“We follow the innate desire that kids have to create and explore,” he said. “Discovering, really listening to the children – what are their passions? What do they want to learn?”

This method, VanBrummelen said, builds incredible engagement.

NELCC places a strong emphasis on the arts and outdoor play. Children participate in myriad activities, including science experiments, cooking, art projects, robotics, LEGO projects, and forest games.

“It’s critically important that we have an environment where warm and nurturing relationships happen,” said VanBrummelen.

There are 14 children on the age 0-3 waitlist, and seven on the 3-5 waitlist. VanBrummelen said NELCC hopes to open a second multi-age room in July, and hopefully a third in the fall.

NELCC has received many positive comments from parents about how happy their children are to be there.

“You have really changed our family’s life through this program,” one parent raved.

Financial report

Secretary-Treasurer Michael McLellan gave the board an update on finances, specifically surplus.

In the year to date, the district has spent $531,893 of last year’s accumulated operating surplus: $13,523 for the new district strategic plan; $20,912 on a new website and visual identity; $2,518 into the Classroom Improvement Fund; $169,571 for two new vans; $122,000 on new technology devices and infrastructure; and $203,369 for the new playground at Nakusp Elementary.

By the end of the year, the district expects to use about $131,770 more of the surplus for additional expenses: $19,133 for software transitions; $40,000 into the Classroom Improvement Fund; $36,000 more on technology devices and infrastructure; and $36,637 on final upgrades for the Nakusp Elementary playground.

McLellan reported that total operating expenses across all funds for the year are in line with the revised budget. The district is anticipating a deficit across all funds of about $600,000 for the fiscal year, which would result in an overall surplus in all funds of about $3.9 million.

Organization policy

The board approved an updated bylaw on the Organization and Operations of the Board of Education.

“This is the most important policy or bylaw of the board,” said Secretary-Treasurer McLellan. “It’s the way the board is organized and how it runs its meetings.”

The bylaw was last updated in June 2022. The update aligns the policy with existing practices. Changes include how committees are formed and how appointments are made.

School calendar policy

The board adopted a new policy regarding school calendars. The policy replaces Bylaw No. 9.

The new policy indicates that a ‘District Calendar Committee’ will be formed before adopting a school calendar for one or more of the district’s schools. The committee will consist of representatives chosen by and from the board and its partner groups.

The old bylaw was written in a way that only applied to amendments to a school calendar, said Secretary-Treasurer McLellan, rather than calendar adoption in general.

School closure policy

Another policy was adopted, concerning permanent school closures.

“I guess we should point out that we’re not looking at actually closing any schools – we’re just passing a policy and making sure it’s up to date!” said board chair Steve Gascon.

The policy describes the steps the board would take when considering closing a school permanently. The updated policy replaces language to align it with best practices across the province.

“[Closing a school permanently] requires a very robust consultative process, including all partner groups and parents of the schools that may be impacted by a school closure, so that everybody feels like there’s been an appropriate and duly diligent process,” said Secretary-Treasurer McLellan.

The policy outlines the process in detail.

Bursaries and scholarships

One final policy was adopted, to do with board-awarded bursaries and scholarships.

These bursaries and scholarships will acknowledge grade 12 student(s) who best exemplify one or more of the four strategic plan priorities: competency, health, environment, and collaboration.

The board will determine the award amount(s), and any other criteria, when applicable.

Rachael Lesosky, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Valley Voice