THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, January 14, 2026

5:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

ONLINE MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING

Trustees

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

Absent

• N. Bailey
• T. Harris

Staff

• R. Gray, Superintendent/CEO
• M. Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer
• K. Matthews, Manager Admin. Services
• G. Robinson, Ex. Dir. Communications
• J. Poulin, Assistant Superintendent
• M. Olsen, Assistant Superintendent
• K. Steel, Director of Instruction
• K. Funke-Robinson, Director of Instruction
• B. Hancock, Director of Instruction

Representatives

• Strategic Direction Committee Meeting Representatives:

  CUPE Representative: Jeff Virtanen
  NDTA Representative: Megan Simmer

  NSAA Representative: Jeff Hasenauer

  IEC Representative:  Denise Augustine

   

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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 5:02 pm.

2.

ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were no additions. 

3.

DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

There were no deletions.

4.

CHANGE IN ORDER

There was no change in order. 

5.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• SD26/01/14-01

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

The minutes of December 10, 2025, were approved as presented.

7.

PRESENTATIONS

8.

SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

8.1

Brett Hancock, Director of Instruction, Priority Populations

• Update on Board Goal - Truth & Reconciliation 
• NLPS 2025 Lehal Tournament (Stephen Epp, Principal John Barsby Secondary School)

Brett Hancock provided an update on district's commitment to the Board's goal of Truth & Reconciliation.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. Stephen Epp, Principal of John Barsby Secondary School, shared a video of the district's 2025 Lehal Tournament and discussed the school's ongoing work with Elders.  

8.2

Margaret Olsen, Assistant Superintendent

Re: District Program Review - Island ConnectEd

Margaret Olsen presented the district's review of the Island ConnectEd program.  An information sheet, together with the report, is attached to the agenda. 

8.3

Brett Hancock, Director of Instruction, Priority Populations

Re: Academies Update

Brett Hancock provided an update on the district's academies.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

8.4

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: District Operating Grant Update

Mark Walsh provided an update on the district's operating grant.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda.

8.5

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Administrative Procedures Update

Mark Walsh provided results of a recent review of the following Administrative Procedures:

• Administrative Procedure 301.2AP - Active Transportation was created
• Administrative Procedure 602.15AP - Student Illness/Injury/Concussion was updated
• Administrative Procedure 503.10AP - Second Language Instruction was deleted

8.6

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Policy 208 - Board Committee Representation and Annual Workplan 

Mark Walsh proposed a minor change to Policy 208 - Board Committee Representation and Annual Workplan, recommending a co-chair model rather than a Chair and Vice-Chair structure for the Strategic Directions Committee.  An action sheet is attached to the agenda. 

• SD26/01/14-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) amend Policy 208 – Board Committee Representation and Annual Workplan to ensure that the Strategic Directions Committee has a Co-Chair model.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

CORRESPONDENCE REFERRED FROM THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

There was none. 

10.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

There was none. 

11.

NEW BUSINESS

There was none. 

12.

FOR INFORMATION 

None

13.

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. 

14.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 6:29 pm.