In attendance:

1. Call to Order (Eric): Meeting called to order at 7.05 p.m. Members welcomed.

2. Adoption of Agenda (Eric): Addition of VCPAC AGM Resolutions & Gaming funds issue to Agenda.

3. March 12^th, 2003 RAMPAC General Meeting Minutes : Copies of minutes distributed to members.

• Moved (Ray Lett) and seconded (Paul McGroarty) that March 12th, 2003, Meeting minutes are accepted. Approved.

4. Gaming Commission Funding Application (Eric):

• Summarized a letter from Derek Sturko, general manager, BC Gaming Policy & Enforcement Branch, stating that for all current gaming fund applications the funding will be at $20/ student rather than the $40/student, a rate that would have been in effect when the application was submitted. BC government contends that they are in a new fiscal year as of April 1 2003 & therefore any cheques they send out will be under the new rule rather than the rule in effect "last year". For PACs who send in an application at the beginning of the school year and haven't been processed, this means a cut of 50%.

• Patty: Bingo funding and gaming funding are separate in Sturko's letter. Bingo funds paid by direct deposit @ $20/student to PAC's affiliated to a registered bingo hall. RAMPAC has applied for both gaming and bingo funding. Esquimalt Bingo affiliation for Mt Doug school has been approved.
• Eric: John Roche and Eric met with Ida Chong (Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA) to protest changes in gaming commission funding policy. Chong confirmed changes, but appeared sympathetic to RAMPAC. Chong claimed problems of gaming funding system inherited from previous administration and new system will be fair and that applications will be processed faster. If RAMPAC can demonstrate that 2002-2003 gaming application was based on $40/student, Chong will ask Solicitor General to have new policy of retroactive $20/student reversed.
• Patty: Will write letter to Ida Chong stating that RAMPAC funding was based on $40/student and urging that funding be based on old rate. RAMPAC can expect gaming funding of $16,000 rather than $30,000 for 2003-2004 school year and zero funding for 2002-2003. Short fall will have major impact on RAMPAC funded extra curricula activities e.g. athletics program.
• Debbie Ibaraki: RAMPAC should be responsible for budget shortfalls and school should not have to absorb RAMPAC losses. .Other fund raising activities may have to be considered to compensate for short fall. Priorities should be established for spending remaining funds. RAMPAC financial commitments must be carefully reviewed. RAMPAC should take responsibility for budget
• shortfalls and that we can't just let the school absorb our losses.
• Principal: In 2001-2002 Mt Doug school provided interim coverage of RAMPAC bills until gaming funds arrived in August 2002. Interim coverage could be difficult this year if there is a large short-fall. Will meet with staff and put freeze on spending of PAC funds for extra curricula activities. Imposing spending freeze may not be easy because some events (e.g. athletic banquet) cannot be cancelled.
• Eric: Funds for some budgeted items e.g. Emergency Preparedness equipment have not been spent.
• Paul McGroarty: RAMPAC accounts presently have positive balance of $9500.55 and all of the bills submitted to RAMPAC have been paid.
• Principal: Ask that Paul McGroarty meet with school secretary and discuss RAMPAC funding and commitments. An emergency meeting will be held to inform staff and students of spending freeze. Also, would like to be kept informed about any protest letters to government and MLA's

5. Administration ( Principal):

• Participated in first school planning council meeting on April 16^th. Feels meeting was very productive.
• Participated in workshop on school planning process.and will share information from workshop with committee.
• Information on school improvements for grade reconfiguration in Newsletter. Twenty improvements (e.g. school painting, improvements to ventilation and air-conditioning) started since January 1^st.
• Four Mt. Doug school students have received Youth-in Action awards.
• January in-school examination grades for all subjects except biology are higher than provincial average. 2002-2003 is first year that in-school grades have exceeded the provincial average.
• A staff committee has developed a school code of conduct that must be approved by staff and students. Draft of code of conduct distributed to RAMPAC for comments.
• Debbie Ibaraki: Suggest change "Demonstrate the highest standards of academic conduct, including not cheating or plagiarizing" to "Demonstrate the highest standards of integrity and honesty."

6. Administration – (Vice Principal, Paul Thomas)

• Course selection process is finished including visits to feeder schools (two visits per school). Starting to build time table for next year.
• 160 G9 students in feeder schools have signed up for leadership at Mt. Doug.
• 60 G12 students re-wrote provincial examination
• April 8-12^th Les Miserables musical production very successful. Efforts of Barry Janzen and Sandy King in directing production very much appreciated. Production estimated to have made $2500 in ticket revenue to be used to fund lighting and sound upgrades for future productions.
• School exterior has been prepared for painting.
• SD 61 not expected to reduce school staff next year.
• G9 students in 2003-2004 will be on new graduation program presently part of new M.Ed. legislation.

7. 1 Grade 12 - No report

7. 2 Grade 11 – Patty Freeman – No new information to report

7. 3 Communication (Linda Bartram):

• Newsletter has notice urging parents to make income tax deductable RAMPAC.donations.

7.4 VCPAC (Eric for Nellva Kurylo) – Highlights of April 15^th VCPAC Meeting at Victor School.

• Presentation by Lambrick acting principal, Randy Falls on school video surveillance. SD 61 favours installation of outside video surveillance system at Lambrick school because of frequent vandalism and easy access to school building. Issues to be discussed and SD 61 will be establishing school video surveillance policy.
• Representative from Mt. Doug school family invited to sit on VCPAC reconfiguration committee. Are any RACMPAC members interested?
• VCPAC motion to SD 61 that SD 61 do not exercise discretionary powers to appoint school planning councils at schools where councils have not been established.
• VCPAC AGM will be held at Lambrick school on April 22.

7.5 Emergency Preparedness – No Report

8. Financial Report (Paul McGroarty):

• Gaming account $919.38; checking account $8398.67; fundraising account $919.38; Total 9500.55.
• Thank you letters from school council for support received.

• Agreed to vote by proxy on VCPAC AGM resolutions. Invited members to review resolutions on VCPAC web site and send comments to Eric by April 21^st.

• Moved (Cam Bartram) and seconded (Ray Lett) that Eric Flannagan vote (by proxy) on VCPAC AGM resolutions on behalf of RAMPAC members. Approved.

10. Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 8.53 p.m. Next meeting on May 21^st, 2003.

Patty: Write to Ida Chong to urge that gaming funding for 2002-2003 was based on $40/student.

Paul: Meet with school secretary and discuss RAMPAC funding and commitments.

Eric: Complete proxy vote on VCPAC AGM resolutions.