THE STORY
This September, as secondary school counsellors were preparing for their annual SCHOLARSHIP presentations for grade 12 students and their parents...another reality of these tough economic times became evident.
One of the most valuable scholarships resources that students, parents and especially school counsellors used year after year was the BC Awards Online website. But in mid-September, the site was taken offline and the following message appeared on the old BC Awards Online website
To Whom it May Concern:
Regarding the closure of the B.C. Awards Online Site.
In light of various enquiries we provide the following information: Historically management of the site was undertaken by a School District #61 employee as part of an annual agreement entered into between the Ministry of Education and the Greater Victoria School District. In September the Ministry of Education (Measurement Evaluation and International Languages Department) notified the district that funds to support this project would not be forthcoming hence the Greater Victoria School District can no longer offer the support service that was provided in the past. |
Almost immediately, the BC Grad List Serve and the BC School Counsellors List Serve were abuzz with questions about if's and when's regarding the site coming back online.
On behalf of BC School Counsellors, numerous phone calls were made to the founding partners of the site requesting clarification about the status of the site. After some discussions, the BCSCA made offer to work with 1 or both the founding partners of the site with the goal of re-activating the site.
However, those discussions stalled, and at the September BCSCA executive meeting a motion was passed endorsing efforts to assume sole control and ownership of the BC Awards Online website.
GOOD NEWS
During the BCSCA Annual General Meeting, October 23, 2009, it was announced to its members that the BC Awards Online website is now the property of the BC School Counsellor Association.
The BCSCA Executive is excited to be able re-launch the BCAwardsOnline.org website to support the efforts of school counsellors to support students and their families
|
