THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT 68

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

6:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

BOARD ROOM

395 Wakesiah Avenue

Nanaimo, BC V9R 3K6

Trustees

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

Absent

• C. McKay, Vice Chair
• L. Lee

Staff

• S. Saywell, Superintendent/CEO
• M. Walsh, Secretary-Treasurer
• L. Tait, Deputy Superintendent
• K. Matthews, Manager Admin. Services

Absent

• D. Burgos, Ex. Dir. of Communications

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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 6:06 pm.

2.

TRANSFER OF ITEMS TO OPEN MEETING AGENDA

There were none. 

3.

ADDITIONS

There were no additions. 

4.

DELETIONS

Joan Brown and Andrew Sutherland from SFN have sent their regrets. 

5.

CHANGE IN ORDER

There was no change in order. 

6.

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

• R23/10/25-01
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Agenda be approved.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

7.

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

• R23/10/25-02
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the minutes from the Regular Board of Education meeting held on September 27, 2023, be adopted.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

8.

SECTION 72(3) REPORT

8.1

Section 72(3) Report 

• R23/10/25-03
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Morvay

  That the Section 72(3) Report from the Closed Board of Education meeting on September 27, 2023 and the Special Closed Board of Education meetings held on October 3, 11 and 12, 2023 be received.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

9.

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS

Education Committee Meeting: November 1, 2023

Business Committee Meeting: November 8, 2023

Board of Education Meeting: November 22, 2023

Statutory Holiday: November 13, 2023 (Observed for Remembrance Day) 

10.

PRESENTATIONS

10.1

Bjorn Stime

Re: RCMP in Schools

Mr. Stime presented about RCMP members in schools. The presentation can be viewed here.

11.

CORRESPONDENCE

11.1

J. Rutherford

Re: Concerns re Circus Advertisements 

• R23/10/25-04
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Robinson
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Brzovic

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence from J. Rutherford to staff for response. 

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.2

Office of the Ombudsperson

Re:  Quarterly Report: April 1 - June 30, 2023

• R23/10/25-05
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Rokeby
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence from the Office of the Ombudsperson be received and filed. 

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

11.3

M. Duckworth

Re: Letter of Concern

• R23/10/25-06
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Rokeby

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) refer the correspondence from M. Duckworth to the Board Chair for response. 

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

12.1

Business Committee

• R23/10/25-07
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Pellegrin

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) receive the Draft Revised Policy 3.8 – Transportation 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
• R23/10/25-08
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) direct that Rutherford Elementary School be reopened as of September 2025 and that staff are directed to create a School Transition Working Group to address issues associated with reopening the facility and provide the Board with recommendations with respect to appropriate catchments for Rutherford and the surrounding schools and potential programming, if applicable, to ensure the long-term viability of the school.

   

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

12.2

Education Committee

13.

SENIOR STAFF REPORTS

14.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

14.1

Scott Saywell, Superintendent 

Re:  Draft Strategic Plan 

Scott Saywell presented the Board's draft Strategic Plan goals and objectives which has been created through collaborative efforts with trustees and district staff.  

• R23/10/25-09
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the Board of Education of School District No. 68 (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) make the attached draft Strategic Plan goals and objectives available to the public utilizing the consultation process as per Board Governance, Section 1, 2.17 and to report back at the Business Committee on December 13, 2023.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

15.

NEW BUSINESS

16.

FOR INFORMATION

16.1

Board Motions Report

The Board Motions Report was received as information. 

16.2

Trustee Committee Reports

There were no Trustee Committee Reports.

16.3

Report from Special Closed Board Meeting

Report from the Special Closed Board was received as information. 

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.

18.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 6:51 pm.

• R23/10/25-10
  IT WAS MOVED BY Trustee Brzovic
  IT WAS SECONDED BY Trustee Robinson

  That the meeting be adjourned.

  CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY