THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, April 23, 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
• C. Morvay
• L. Pellegrin
• T. Rokeby
• M. Robinson

Absent

• L. Lee

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 6:05 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

• R25/04/18-01
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

• R25/04/18-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Morvay
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  That the minutes from the Regular Board of Education meeting held on March 12, 2025, be adopted.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.

SECTION 72(3) REPORT

8.1

Section 72(3) Report 

• R25/04/18-03
  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 March 12, 2025, be received.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

Strategic Directions Committee Meeting: May 7, 2025 (note new date)

Board of Education Meeting: May 28, 2025

Statutory Holiday - Victoria Day: Monday, May 19, 2025 

Non-Instructional Day: Monday, May 5, 2025

10.

PRESENTATIONS

10.1

Nanaimo Lions Club - Lion Bob Huck, Lion Burnie Smith and Lion Larrie Taylor

Re: Lions Free Vision Screening Program

Members from the Nanaimo Lions Club presented on their free Vision Screening Program.  The presentation is attached to the agenda. 

10.2

NDTA - President Joanna Cornthwaite

Re: 2025-2026 Budget

Jo Cornthwaite, NDTA President, shared comments on behalf of the NDTA regarding the 2025/26 Preliminary Annual Budget.

10.3

CUPE 606 - President Jeff Virtanen

Re: 2025-2026 Budget

Jeff Virtanen, CUPE President, shared comments on behalf of CUPE regarding the 2025/26 Preliminary Annual Budget.

11.

CORRESPONDENCE

12.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS COMMITTEE REPORTS

• R25/04/18-04
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Board of Education of School District No.68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) give the Capital Bylaw No. 2025/26-CPSD68-01 all three readings at one meeting, today, this 23rd day of April, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/04/18-05
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 adopt the Capital Bylaw cited as “School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Capital Bylaw No. 2025/26-CPSD68-01” being a bylaw associated with accessing capital funds through capital funding programs from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, in the 2025/2026 School Year.

  Read a first time this 23rd day of April, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/04/18-06
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Rokeby

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 adopt the Capital Bylaw cited as “School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Capital Bylaw No. 2025/26-CPSD68-01” being a bylaw associated with accessing capital funds through capital funding programs from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, in the 2025/2026 School Year.

  Read a second time this 23rd day of April, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/04/18-07
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 adopt the Capital Bylaw cited as “School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Capital Bylaw No. 2025/26-CPSD68-01” being a bylaw associated with accessing capital funds through capital funding programs from the Ministry of Education and Child Care, in the 2025/2026 School Year.

  Read a third time and adopted, this 23rd day of April, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

13.

SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

13.1

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.

13.2

Shawn Johnston, Executive Director of HR and Arlen Valade, Manager Occupational Safety & Wellness

Re:  Emergency Preparedness 

Shawn Johnston and Arlen Valade shared information on the district's comprehensive emergency preparedness strategy.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

13.3

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Additional Before and After School Care Program - Park Avenue School

• R25/04/18-08
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Morvay
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve an additional elementary school site at Park Avenue Elementary to host District operated Before and After School Care in September 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

13.4

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re:  2025-2026 Annual Budget Discussions 

Mark Walsh continued the 2025-2026 Annual Budget Discussion and answered Trustee questions.

14.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was no Unfinished Business. 

15.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no New Business. 

16.

FOR INFORMATION

16.1

Board Motions Report

The Board Motions Report was received as information. 

16.2

Trustee Committee Reports

There were no Trustee Committee Reports.

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 7:47 pm.

• R25/04/18-09
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY