Sarah Haxby's day planner is like a well-used, detailed road map that has been pored over and relied upon for months on end. Day in and day out Haxby, who holds the position of Bowen Island community school coordinator, is called upon to put together support for programs ranging from Mother Goose, a rhyme and song hour for children under four, to Grandfriends, a program linking seniors and elementary school-age children. To date there are just over 35 groups that Sarah Haxby is connected to and supports.
"Often," Haxby says, "the community school coordinator is behind the socio-economic and educational development of services in the community, providing links between non-profit and community organizations. It is a seamless integration, serving all of the partners - the community, the students at the school and the municipal needs. It really is a balancing act to provide the access and opportunities and programs and services for all of the parties."
BICS has had the designation of community school for 36 years. The Association of Community Schools, British Columbia, describes the role of community school coordinator as one that "includes providing sustainable and innovative collaboration and long term planning that responds to the needs of the community and enhances the school as a centre for community development, learning and activity on Bowen Island."
In the past, there were several schools in the West Vancouver area deemed a community school but now BICS is only one remaining. Although the coordinator's position has always been an on-going one, the same cannot be said for the funding.
Christine Walker, director of community recreation services with the municipality, is part of the current negotiations between the school district and the municipality as they attempt to draft a joint-use agreement between the two as well as stabilize the funding arrangement for the community school coordinator position.
"There is a recognition on both sides", Walker says, "of how important and valuable the position of community school coordinator is."
How the community uses the building and its facilities is also the topic of negotiations. A new working agreement needs to be created to determine how the community can use the gym, classrooms, the community use room and all other facilities within BICS.
Bowen Island continues to grow and change, as does the community school coordinator's job description. For example, here is a snapshot from Haxby's day planner. On one page, in one day, she has an eco team meeting; a BICS staff meeting; Seaquarium training; and an outdoor learning classroom meeting. On this day the community school coordinator has also prepared for an after-school art program and worked towards the unveiling of three carved Cedar Stories panels in June. This ties into a whole Community School Spirit project as well as into the district's First Nations literacy programming.
"The parking lot is always full," says BICS principal Jennifer Pardee. "This is the hub of the island. It is the one place that provides space. The fact that we are a community school brings such richness to the community and especially given the whole context of what Bowen Island is about. It is about community. It takes a lot of coordination. That is where Sarah's role comes into play. "
School trustee Jane Kellett recognizes there have been struggles with the funding of the coordinator's position since its inception. In the past, the job was funded by the Ministry of Education with various grants and monies being distributed on a year-to-year basis. "The job has evolved as the community needs have increased and the district would like to see a more balanced cost sharing of the position with the municipality over time," says Kellett. Pardee says, "The two parties are looking at the goals and visions of the municipality as well as the goals and visions of the board of education."
At this point, the school district provides 80 per cent of the funding for the position of community school coordinator and the municipality provides the other twenty per cent. Christine Walker predicts that a joint-use agreement will be finalized by this fall and once that is done, the arrangement between the school district and the municipality regarding how the community school coordinator position is funded will follow. "How does the community end up sustaining this position in a viable way?"
That is the question Walker poses and one she and others will be looking to answer with input and direction from a variety of voices.
