THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

6:00 P.m. - 8:00 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 6:00 pm, and acknowledged that today is Anti-Bullying Day. 

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

• R25/02/26-01
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Lee
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

• R25/02/26-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the minutes from the Regular Board of Education meeting held on January 29, 2025, be adopted.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.

SECTION 72(3) REPORT

8.1

Section 72(3) Report 

• R25/02/26-03
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Harris

  That the Section 72(3) Report from the Closed Board of Education meeting on January 29, 2025, and the Special Closed Board of Education meeting on February 12, 2025, be received.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

Strategic Directions Committee Meeting: March 5, 2025, at 5:00 pm 

Board of Education Meeting: March 12, 2025, at 6:00 pm

Schools Closed for Spring Break: March 17 - 28, 2025

10.

PRESENTATIONS

There were no presentations.

11.

CORRESPONDENCE

There was no correspondence. 

12.

STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS COMMITTEE REPORTS

12.1

Child Care

• R25/02/26-04
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Brzovic

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) empower staff to apply for child care spaces funding to create a child care facility at Dufferin Learning Centre.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/02/26-05
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve up to two additional elementary school sites in the North End to host District operated Before and After School Care in September 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/02/26-06
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve a pilot cost-recovery based programming at appropriate sites determined by staff for summer 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12.2

Amended Annual Budget ByLaw

• R25/02/26-07
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Board of Education of School District No.68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) give the Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025 all three readings at one meeting, today, this 26^th day of February 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/02/26-08
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Rokeby

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 adopt the Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025 cited as “School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025” being a bylaw associated with the amended annual budget showing the estimated revenue and expense for the 2024/2025 fiscal year and the total budget bylaw amount of $232,710,835 for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

  Read a first time this 26^th day of February 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/02/26-09
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 adopt the Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025 cited as “School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025” being a bylaw associated with the amended annual budget showing the estimated revenue and expense for the 2024/2025 fiscal year and the total budget bylaw amount of $232,710,835 for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

  Read a second time this 26^th day of February 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• R25/02/26-10
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Harris
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 adopt the Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025 cited as “School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2024/2025” being a bylaw associated with the amended annual budget showing the estimated revenue and expense for the 2024/2025 fiscal year and the total budget bylaw amount of $232,710,835 for the 2024/2025 fiscal year.

  Read a third time and adopted, this 26^th day of February 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

Gillian Robinson, Executive Director of Communications

Re: Communications Update

Gillian Robinson provided an update on two new digital communications tools that the department is using to better meet the needs of our community. An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

13.3

Mark Walsh, Secretary Treasurer & Pete Sabo

Re:  Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre Miniature Long House Project

Mark Walsh provided an update on the Tillicum Lelum Aboriginal Friendship Centre Miniature Long House Project that was recently completed at  John Barsby Community School. An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

13.4

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer and Kelsey Bakewell, Maintenance Manager

Re: 2025 Snow Event

Mark Walsh reported on the District's response to the February snow event. An information sheet is attached to the agenda.  

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

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 6:55 pm.

• R25/02/26-11
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Morvay
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Rokeby

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY