THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS COMMITTEE MEETING

Wednesday, March 05, 2025

5:00 P.m. - 7:00 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

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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 5:00 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

• SD25/03/05-01
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

6.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

• SD25/03/05-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Harris

  That the minutes of the Strategic Directions Committee meeting held on February 12, 2025, be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

PRESENTATIONS

There were none. 

8.

SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

8.1

Don Balcombe, Assistant Superintendent

Re: Presentation on the Board Goal: Student & Employee Wellness

Don Balcombe shared information about the District's strategy to support student and employee wellness.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

8.2

Laura Tait, Assistant Superintendent

Re: 2025/2026 Local School Calendar 

Laura Tait presented an amended 2025/26 local school calendar for the committee's consideration.   Ms. Tait also presented draft local school calendars for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29, for consideration and feedback.  An action sheet is attached to the agenda. 

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

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) approve the attached revised 2025/2026 Local School Calendar.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• SD25/03/05-04
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Harris

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) make the attached three-year draft Local School Calendars for 2026/27, 2027/28 and 2028/29 available to the public for 30 days utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.17 and to report back at the May Strategic Directions Committee meeting with recommendations.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.3

Pete Sabo, Executive Director of Planning & Operations and Tracy Mowat, Transportation Manager

Re: Annual Route Review

Pete Sabo and Tracy Mowat presented the annual route review.  An information sheet is attached to the agenda. 

8.4

Mark Walsh, Secretary Treasurer and Pete Sabo, Executive Director of Planning & Operations

Re:  Annual Facilities Grant

Mark Walsh and Justin Taylor presented the Annual Facilities Grant.  An information sheet is attached to agenda. 

8.5

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Revised Policy 218 – Role of Chair and Vice Chair

Mark Walsh presented an amended Policy 281 - Role of Chair and Vice Chair for discussion and consideration.  An action sheet is attached to the agenda. 

• SD25/03/05-05
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Keller
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Bailey

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) receive the Draft Policy 218 Role of Chair and Vice Chair and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.7 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.6

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer & Policy Committee

Re: Policy Recommendations 

Mark Walsh presented two draft policies and one draft Bylaw and the rationale for changes. Two of the Policies are new policies in alignment with the Board’s approved new Policy Framework. The Bylaw is an edit of an existing Bylaw. An action sheet is attached to the agenda. 

• SD25/03/05-06
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Keller
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) receive the Draft Policy 403 – Board Recognition and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.7 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• SD25/03/05-07
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Lee
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Harris

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) receive the Draft Policy 505 - School Catchment and Student Enrolment and circulate as a notice of motion for 30 days, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.7 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
• SD25/03/05-08
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Harris

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) read the Draft Bylaw 502 Parent-Student Appeals for a first and second time and then circulate a notice of third reading for 30 days, utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.7 – Policy Development.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

CORRESPONDENCE REFERRED FROM THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

There was none. 

10.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

10.1

Mark Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer

Re: Revised Policy 205 - Trustee Code of Conduct and Conflict Resolution 

• SD25/03/05-09
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Lee

  The Strategic Directions Committee recommends that the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) adopt Revised Policy 205 – Trustee Code of Conduct and Conflict Resolution.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.

NEW BUSINESS

There was no New Business.

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 this evening. 

14.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 7:09 pm.

• SD25/03/05-10
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Lee

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY