THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, May 07, 2025

5:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

ONLINE MICROSOFT TEAMS MEETING

Trustees

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

Staff

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

Representatives

• CUPE Representative: Jeff Virtanen
  NDTA Representative: Joanna Cornthwaite

  NSAA Representative: Lisa Frey and Lindsay Watford 

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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 5:07 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

• SD25/05/14-01
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Lee

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

• SD25/05/14-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  That the minutes of the Strategic Directions Committee meeting held on April 9, 2025, be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

PRESENTATIONS

7.1

Student Voice Circle

Students presented a year in review of their participation in the District's Student Voice Circle.

8.

SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

8.1

Kerri Steel, Director of Instruction - Learning & Inclusion 

Re: Accessibility Committee Annual Report

Kerri Steel provided an annual update on the district’s Accessibility Plan.  An information sheet, together with the Accessibility Plan is attached to the agenda. 

8.2

Jacquie Poulin, Assistant Superintendent and Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re:  Rutherford Update

Jacquie Poulin and Mark Walsh provided an update on the re-opening of Rutherford Elementary.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

9.

CORRESPONDENCE REFERRED FROM THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

There was none.

10.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

10.1

Laura Tait, Assistant Superintendent

Re:  Local School Calendars

Laura Tait shared the consultation process and feedback on the draft local three-year calendars.  An action sheet, together with the draft calendars are attached to the agenda.  

• SD25/05/14-03
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Morvay
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo) approve the attached three-year draft Local School Calendars for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.2

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Revised Policy and Bylaw Recommendations

Mark Walsh shared the consultation process and feedback on Policies 218, 505, 403 and Bylaw 502.  An action sheet, together with the revised policies are attached to the agenda.

• SD25/05/14-04
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) adopt the following amended policies:

  • Policy 218 - Role of Chair and Vice Chair
  • Policy 505 - School Catchment and Student Enrolment
  • Policy 403 - Board Recognition
  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• SD25/05/14-05
  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) read Bylaw 502 - Parent Student Appeals for a third and final time.

  OPPOSED:  Trustee Morvay

  CARRIED

10.3

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Board Committee Structure Review

Mark Walsh provided a brief review of the committee structure and provided next steps for consideration.  An action sheet is attached to the agenda. 

• IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve in principle making the Strategic Directions Committee permanent and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, Policy 208 – Board Committees Representation and Annual Workplan, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 210 – Policy Development and that Policy 208, Section 1.3 is amended to include a member of Student Voice as a member of the Strategic Directions Committee.
• SD25/05/14-06
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Keller

  Motion to Amend:

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve in principle making the Strategic Directions Committee permanent and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, Policy 208 – Board Committees Representation and Annual Workplan, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 210 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• SD25/05/14-07

  On the Motion as Amended:

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve in principle making the Strategic Directions Committee permanent and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, Policy 208 – Board Committees Representation and Annual Workplan, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 210 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

10.4

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasure and Taunia Sutton, Associate Secretary-Treasurer

Re: 2025/26 Proposed Preliminary Annual Budget

Mark Walsh and Taunia Sutton presented the 2025/26 Preliminary Annual Budget.  The annual budget document is attached to the agenda.

• SD25/05/14-08
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Lee
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No.68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) give the School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) 2025/26 Budget Bylaw, all three readings at one meeting on the 28th of May, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• SD25/05/14-09
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Brzovic

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) adopt the Annual Budget of the Board for the fiscal year 2025/26 at the Board of Education meeting on May 28, 2025.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.

NEW BUSINESS

There was none.

12.

FOR INFORMATION 

There was 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. 

14.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 7:03 pm.

• SD25/05/14-10
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Harris

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY