THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, January 29, 2025

6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

BOARD ROOM

395 Wakesiah Avenue

Nanaimo, BC V9R 3K6

Trustees

• N. Bailey, Chair
• G. Keller, Vice Chair
• T. Brzovic
• T. Harris
• L. Lee
• C. Morvay
• L. Pellegrin
• T. Rokeby
• M. Robinson

Staff

• R. Gray, Superintendent/CEO
• M. Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer
• K. Matthews, Manager Admin. Services
• G. Robinson, Ex. Dir. Communications

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1.

CALL TO ORDER

The Chair will call the meeting to order. The southeastern part of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the lower Fraser River are the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. For thousands of years, the Coast Salish people have lived in, travelled and fished the waterways of the Salish Sea. The hul’q’umi’num language is the language of this land.  Hul’q’umi’num traditionally, and to this day, unites the Snaw Naw As, Snuneymuxw and Stz’uminus peoples as one family and on whose territories we stand today. We also give thanks to the ancestors, hereditary leaders, matriarchs and creatures big and small for looking after the rich resources and cultural teachings of this land.

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:06 pm.

2.

TRANSFER OF ITEMS TO OPEN MEETING AGENDA

There were none. 

3.

ADDITIONS

There were no additions.

4.

DELETIONS

There were no deletions. 

5.

CHANGE IN ORDER

There was no change in order. 

6.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• R25/01/29-01
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

• R25/01/29-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  That the minutes from the Regular Board of Education meeting held on December 18, 2024, be adopted.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.

SECTION 72(3) REPORT

8.1

Section 72(3) Report 

• R25/01/29-03
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Section 72(3) Report from the Closed Board of Education meeting on December 18, 2024, be received.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

Strategic Directions Committee: February 12, 2025 (online)

Board of Education Meeting: February 26, 2025

Statutory Holiday (Family Day): February 17, 2025 (Schools Closed)

Non-Instructional Days: February 3 and 4, 2025 (Schools Closed)

10.

PRESENTATIONS

There were none. 

11.

CORRESPONDENCE

11.1

Ministry of Education and Child Care and Ministry of Infrastructure

Re: Ministry of Infrastructure Update

• R25/01/29-04
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Morvay
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence from the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Ministry of Infrastructure to be received and filed.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.2

Canadian Parents for French Nanaimo-Ladysmith Chapter

Re: Thank you for Supporting Late French Immersion

• R25/01/29-05
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence from Canadian Parents for French Nanaimo-Ladysmith Chapter to be received and filed.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

12.1

Strategic Directions Committee

• R25/01/29-06
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) receive the Draft Revised Policy 205 – Trustee Code of Conduct and Conflict Resolution and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.7 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

13.

SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

13.1

Shawn Johnston, Executive Director of HR and Zoe Mikelic-Strazza, Manager Health & Wellness

Re: Health & Wellness

Shawn Johnston provided an update on initiatives that the District has taken towards the goal of Student and Employee Wellness, specifically on the strategy of "increase the number of employees who feel valued and/or engaged".  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

13.2

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer and Zeyad Merchant, Director of Information and Technology

Re: Cyber Security

Mark Walsh provided an update on the cybersecurity measures being undertaken by the District following the October 2024 Business Committee presentation.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda.  

13.3

Laura Tait, Assistant Superintendent

Re: The Aboriginal: How Are We Doing Report (ABHAWD 2023/2024)

Laura Tait presented on the District's How Are We Doing Report, which is an annual, public-facing report focusing on Indigenous students in B.C. An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

13.4

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: School Site Acquisition Charge Update

Mark Walsh provided an update on the School Site Acquisition Charge Bylaw and the current financial status of the account. An information sheet is attached to the agenda.

13.5

Robyn Gray

Re: Superintendent's Reel

Robyn Gray presented the "Superintendent's Reel" which highlights the voices of our educators, achievements of our students and the unwavering support of our families and community partners. 

14.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was none. 

15.

NEW BUSINESS

15.1

Trustee Pellegrin

Re: Letter of Support for Options for Sexual Health

Trustee Pellegrin declared a conflict and did not participate in the discussion or vote on this item.

Trustee Robinson presented a request from Options for Sexual Health. 

• R25/01/29-07
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) write a letter to local MLAs urging them to support the request from the Board for Options for Sexual Health for additional funding for Options for Sexual Health.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

16.

FOR INFORMATION

16.1

Board Motions Report

The Board Motions Report was received as information. 

16.2

Trustee Committee Reports

There were none. 

17.

QUESTION PERIOD

Question Period is intended to enable the public to obtain clarifying information regarding a current agenda item.

Individuals wishing to ask questions of the Board upon completion of Committee and Board sessions shall do so in writing on the form provided which includes their name, street address and email address.  The individual will be asked to verify his/her self and be afforded the opportunity to read out their own question.  Each individual shall be limited to one follow-up question upon receiving a response. Forms are available in the information rack near the entrance of the Board Room.

If the meeting is being held online, individuals wishing to ask questions of the Board shall type their question in the Q&A compose box on the right side of the screen and then select send. Your question will be read by the Board or Committee Chair.

Questions and responses will be included in the video of the meeting and the meeting minutes and will be part of the public record.

 

There were no questions this evening.

18.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 7:44 pm.

• R25/01/29-08
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY