As I reflect on my tenth year as the Superintendent of Schools/CEO, I am awed by the amount of change that has occurred since 2015, and the results we have achieved collectively. The growth of the District has been phenomenal, equivalent to adding a small elementary school or middle school every year until now. We are currently at an all-time high of over 25,700 students. We serve a record number of Indigenous students at 3351, as well as a record number of new Canadians, growing from approximately 800 students in 2015 to over 3000 from 67 countries, today. We also serve the largest number of students with diverse abilities (3506) within the District's history. As a result, we now manage the largest budget of over $380M.
Over the decade, we have experienced a worldwide pandemic, seven wildfires, and several floods. In each case, we collectively responded with courage, resilience, and resolve, developed plans that minimized the impact of each event, considered people's wellbeing, and kept the focus on learning. During the pandemic, we had 96% of our students attend in-person learning in year one and 98% in year two, following strict protocols co-developed with Interior Health. Some of the work we did was heroic - yes you were heroes keeping schools open and students safe. Some of the work was technical, and all of it was unprecedented. Despite the challenges, the protocols and the exhaustion, we collectively responded and persevered with an unmatched ethic of care for our learners and each other.
On the capital side of our work, growth has resulted in the addition of two middle schools and the ongoing construction of a new secondary school, plus numerous additions to schools highlighted by École Dr. Knox Middle and École Hudson Road Elementary, as well as four prefabricated buildings. We also added the new Board of Education Learning Centre. There has never been more capital work going on at one time in District history. Since 2015, we have managed over $330M, with hopefully more to come. We have added electric buses to our bus fleet, which is the largest in the province. Also, the Transportation team has made our service more efficient and safer. Bus drivers have made a concerted effort to promote kindness and courtesy on their buses. Staff recruitment has led to over 4500 employees contributing to the District's work – our largest workforce ever.
The complexity of our learners has grown and diversified and yet we have delivered high quality services with the support of community organizations like Food for Thought, the Food Bank and President's Choice, which all support our Feeding Futures program where we feed thousands of learners each week. We partner with Interior Health, the Foundry, the HRVY Program, and several other organizations that support student's wellbeing. Our partnerships with Okanagan College and UBC-O have led to the most Dual Credit and Advanced Placement Programs in the District's history. Combined with the many academies and Industry Connect or Certification programs, have made us both a provincial and national leader in transition programs.
We are also recognized as provincial or national leaders in Early Learning, Inclusive Education, Mental Health partnerships, Alternative Education, Indigenous Education, Instructional Design and Assessment, fostering Student Agency, Environmental Education, and effective use of technology for instruction. We are provincial leaders for cybersecurity in our business and learning operations. These recognitions come from outside sources such as federal and provincial Ministries, the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), Westbank First Nation, the College Board, professional associations and postsecondary institutions. Students, teachers, administration and senior leaders have presented on these topics provincially, nationally and internationally. We host interested educators from across the country and the world to share your work. Your work is also featured in publications and professional books, authored by leading thinkers in education.
Over the past 10 years, we have collectively improved student learning results. In the past three years, we achieved the best learning results in the District's history, above provincial and national norms, with a graduation rate of 96%, an Indigenous graduation rate at a high of 86%, and a graduation rate near 100% for students on reserve (Westbank First Nation). Our graduation results are above the provincial average for "Children in Care" and students with Ministry Designations. Our completion rate, including our neurodiverse learners, is 98%. Our student-athletes have won many provincial championships in multiple sports – most often coached by staff volunteers. We have put on high-quality performances in the performing and visual arts and entertained thousands in our community. Our students and staff have also been recognized many times as Civic Award winners.
More importantly, the staff and students have embraced the annual District themes and actioned kindness, joy, gratitude, courage, hope, inspired wonder, built caring communities, and promoted togetherness in their schools and community. Supported by staff, students have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for important causes over the years. We continue to strive to improve the life chances of our students and their ability to flourish as well as those in our community who need assistance.
To ensure we flourish, staff are now beginning our wellness work and training, an important initiative for the future of the District and the wellness of our employees. I am excited to see this work begin. The District's new Employee Wellness Manager will ensure this work continues in years to come.
The last ten years have been an incredible journey during which I have been privileged to lead an expert, dedicated and caring team, and advise and support successive courageous Boards of Education. Change has been a constant experience over the past decade and now it is time for the next change. I want to express my gratitude to you all for your tremendous work and outstanding accomplishments over the years. It has been an honour to serve. Keep inspiring hope and helping our young people flourish. Central Okanagan Public Schools is truly a special place because of the people who work here.
With gratitude,
Kevin