We held our monthly Board meeting on 15 November 2018 and covered a number if interesting topics. One of the Board's goals for this year is to look at what it would mean for ISD to serve more children with learning needs. To help us understand the options, three of our current teachers who are trained and have experience in working with special needs students - Caitlyn Dwyer, Kate Lancaster and Adja Sakho - presented to the Board. This was an excellent opportunity for Board members to understand what is required for a school to make an extended learning needs program work well. The Director, Dr Knobloch presented the first draft budget for 2019-2020. The budget comes to the Board for two more readings before it is settled. The purpose if this initial discussion was to check the assumptions that are being made in preparing the budget and to agree on some of the forecasting for program, staffing and student needs. Treasurer Thiaba Camara Sy presented the Auditor's letter. Happily, the school's administration team has resolved all issues raised in previous audits. The Treasurer, with the Business Manager Ibrahima Fall, have also agreed on responses to the very minor issues raised this year. The Board commended the Business Manager on the positive changes to the school's audit findings since he commenced in 2015. Ibrahima's work has improved systems and accountability. The Board had a second reading of the proposed school calendars for 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. The Board approved the key work, holiday and vacation dates for 2019-2020. The Board also discussed the government announcement that Mawlud holiday will be observed on 20 November 2018, not 21 November 2018, which was the best information available at the time of setting this year's calendar. The Board decided to observe 20 November 2018 as an extra holiday and add an extra day to the school year (14 June 2019).
The Assistant Director Suzanne Wardini and the Director presented on their research to date about the development of Diamniadio and what this may mean for ISD families. This was an important update towards strategic future decisions the Board will need to make.
Finally, Chair of the Board's Strategic Planning Committee, Stephane Rosenberg, presented the theory of change that the committee has developed to enable monitoring of ISD's 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. With the Board satisfied with the theory of change, the committee will now populate a log frame with activities, indicators and targets so that we can assess progress towards the school's five-year strategic plan.
If you have any questions, please contact the Board in boardbox@isd.sn.
Kind regards,
Louisa Gibbs
Chair, ISD Board of Trustees