THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

-
BOARD ROOM
395 Wakesiah Avenue
Nanaimo, BC V9R 3K6
Trustees
  • G. Keller, Vice Chair
  • N. Bailey, 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

​​

1.
CALL TO ORDER

 

The Chair will call the meeting to order. With great respect and humility, we acknowledge and honour the lands of the Snuneymuxw people. The Snuneymuxw people maintain their profound, unique and spiritual connection to the land through ageless traditions, teachings, stewardship and expressions of reciprocity.

The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.

2.
TRANSFER OF ITEMS TO OPEN MEETING AGENDA

 

There were none.

3.
ADDITIONS

 

Trustee Keller presented a Notice of Motion for New Business.

4.
DELETIONS

 

There were none.

5.
CHANGE IN ORDER

 

That New Business be moved to follow Announcements and Reminders.

6.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

 
  • R24/12/18-01
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Brzovic
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Robinson

    That the Agenda be approved.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

This item has attachments. 
1.November 27 2024.pdf
2.AGM December 4 2024.pdf
  • R24/12/18-02
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Lee
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Harris

    That the minutes from the Regular Board of Education meeting held on November 27, 2024, and the Annual General Meeting held on December 4, 2024, be adopted.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.
SECTION 72(3) REPORT

 

8.1
Section 72(3) Report 

This item has attachments. 
1.S72(3) Report November 27 2024.pdf
2.S72(3) Report December 4, 2024 1.pdf
  • R24/12/18-03
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Brzovic
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Lee

    That the Section 72(3) Report from the Closed Board of Education meeting on November 27, 2024 and the Special Closed Board of Education meetings held on December 4, 2024, be received.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

 

Winter Break - Schools closed from December 21- January 5, 2025


Next Public Board of Education Meeting: January 29, 2025

10.
NEW BUSINESS

 
  • R24/12/18-04
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Keller
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Rokeby

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) direct staff to promote enrolment of Late French Immersion for the 2025-2026 school year and to report back to the Board in the fall of 2025 for review and further consideration.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.
PRESENTATIONS

 

11.1
NDTA, Jo Cornthwaite and Megan Simmer

 

Re: Late French Immersion Program

Jo Cornthwaite expressed support for the Late French Immersion Program and thanked the Board for their decision.

12.
CORRESPONDENCE

 

12.1
NALT, Nanaimo & Area Land Trust

This item has attachments. 
1.NALT letter to SD 68.pdf

Re: School Water Stewards Program & Environmental Stewardship Action Plan 

  • R24/12/18-05
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Keller
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Brzovic

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence from NALT to the Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Advisory Committee for discussion. 

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12.2
Late French Immersion 

This item has attachments. 
1.LFI - Dec 11.pdf
2.W Litchfield.pdf
3.R Mann_ Late French Immersion .pdf
4.FW_ Late French Immersion.pdf
5.A Lee Letter to the SD68 Board.pdf
6.N. Jensen FW_ Urgent_ Vote on Late Entry French Immersion Program.pdf
7.K Collins _ Thank You For Your Support of LFI.pdf
8.SD68 LFI letter to Board (3).pdf
9.M Bodie Save Late French Immersion (1).pdf
10.P Leather Late French Immersion.pdf
11.D Redden FW_ School Board potential cutting Late French Immersion program.pdf
12.AFN LFI Urgent.pdf
13.D Ruffell Urge to Reconsider Cancelling Late French Immersion Program.pdf
14.J Ruffell- Late French Immersion Program.pdf
15.M Fukunaga.pdf
16.A Vanin 1 Analysis and Recommendations Regarding Late French Immersion Program.pdf
17.A Vanin 2 Personal Analysis and Proposal for the Late French Immersion (LFI) Program.pdf
18.A Hughes President, Canadian Parents for French.pdf
19.C Wakely.pdf
20.D Boulton late entry French Immersion, critical!.pdf
21.E Foster FW_ Late French Immersion Program at Quarterway Elementary.pdf
22.J StanleyLFI letter to board.pdf
23.L Gilfoy Quarterway Cuts.pdf
24.N Dickson ContinuationofLateFrenchImmersion_NDickson.pdf
25.S Madjzoub FW_ Concern about losing the Late French Immersion Program.pdf
26.T Fontaine.pdf
27.T Oke Subject_ Urgent Appeal_ Preserve Late French Immersion for Our Students.pdf
28.R West Quarterway Late French Immersion - support for the program.pdf
29.R Boar FW_ Urgent_ Request to Reconsider Cutting the Late French Immersion Program.pdf
30.POL 2024-FFCB President Letter-French Immersion Nanaimo.pdf
31.C Meunier Quarterway Late French Immersion Program.pdf
32.C Haley Termination of the Late French Immersion Program at Ecole Quaertway.pdf

Correspondence from: S. Smith; W. Litchfield; R. Mann; A. Capadouca; A. Lee; N. Jensen; K. Collins; Student Email; M. Bodie; D. Ruffell; J. Ruffell P. Leather; L'Association des francophones de Nanaimo; C. Haley; M. Fukunaga; R. West; A. Vanin; A Hughes (President of Canadian Parents for French); C. Meunier; C. Wakely; D. Boulton; D. Redden; E. Foster; J. Stanley; L. Gilfoy; N. Dickson; S. Madjzoub; T. Fontaine; T. Oke; R.Boar; M. Dubois (President La Federation des francophones de la Colombie-Britannique)

  • R24/12/18-06
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Robinson
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Harris

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence regarding Late French Immersion to be received and filed.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

13.
COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

13.1
Business Committee

This item has attachments. 
1.2.5 Board Committees Representation and Annual Work Plan Amended.pdf
2.2.6 Board Meeting Procedures.pdf
  • R24/12/18-07
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Robinson
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Lee

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve the School District Statement of Financial Information (SOFI Report), as presented, for the year ending June 30, 2024.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Robinson
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Keller

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve the temporary suspension of the Business Committee and Education Committee to be replaced with a single once a month public Committee of the Whole entitled “Strategic Directions Committee” and a monthly Board working session entitled “Professional Learning Working Group” effective January 2025 and that the Board review the temporary structure in May 2025.

  • R24/12/18-08
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Morvay
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Harris

    Motion to Amend:

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve the temporary suspension of the Business Committee and Education Committee to be replaced with a single once a month public Committee of the Whole entitled “Strategic Directions Committee” and a monthly Board working session entitled “Professional Learning Working Group” effective January 2025 and that the Board review the temporary structure in May 2025 and to accept the temporary amendment to Policies 2.5. and 2.6

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • R24/12/18-09

    ON THE MOTION AS AMENDED:

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve the temporary suspension of the Business Committee and Education Committee to be replaced with a single once a month public Committee of the Whole entitled “Strategic Directions Committee” and a monthly Board working session entitled “Professional Learning Working Group” effective January 2025 and that the Board review the temporary structure in May 2025 and to accept the temporary amendment to Policies 2.5. and 2.6.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
  • R24/12/18-10
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Robinson
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Brzovic

    That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve the joint agreement with the City of Nanaimo to use the Multi-Purpose Space and washrooms at Ecole Hammond Bay Elementary on a non-exclusive basis for community purposes, and that the Secretary-Treasurer is authorized to execute the documents including such terms as the Secretary-Treasurer may consider advisable.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

13.2
Education Committee

 

There were none.

14.
SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

 

14.1
Robyn Gray

 

Re: Superintendent's Report

Robyn Gray presented her Superintendent's report and acknowledged the hard work of staff in the busy weeks leading up to winter break. She  also acknowledged the work and thanked the volunteers of the Christmas Toy Drive. 

15.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

16.
FOR INFORMATION

 

16.1
Board Motions Report

This item has attachments. 
1.OS Reg Brd Motions December 2024.pdf

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 two questions this evening:

1.  Will there be consultation with Quarterway parents about promotion of the program and value of the program?  Answer: Given the emergent nature of the motion, staff have not had a chance to consider what the consultation would look like and will commit to talking to the school and parents so they are aware of what that process will look like.  

2.  Is the NDTA invited to the new committee meetings and to the PLWG? Answer: The Strategic Directions Committee will be inclusive of the education and business committees so the regular seats of the NDTA would be included as they always have been.  In regards to the PLWG, this working group is about professional learning of the Board.  Possibly at a future meeting the NDTA would be invited to share their processes and procedures with regards to how the Union serves its members with the Board.

18.
ADJOURNMENT

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:46 pm.

  • R24/12/18-11
    IT WAS MOVED BYTrustee Robinson
    IT WAS SECONDED BYTrustee Brzovic

    That the meeting be adjourned.

    CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
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