School District No. 35

The Regular Meeting of the Langley Board of Education was held in-person and streamed online.

To view the agenda, visit the Board Meeting webpage here.

 

Announcement – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Board Chair Candy Ashdown made a statement to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. She said that September is a time of beginning but for many Indigenous students and families it is one of remembering and sadness. She explained how 13 years ago Phyllis Webstad started Orange Shirt Day to honour all the children who went to residential schools, those that didn’t make it out of residential schools, and those that didn’t make it home. She told the Board that this year marks the 10^th anniversary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s calls to action (94 calls to action), many of them pertaining to education. With it being a day to promote Reconciliation, the Board is wearing orange shirts to symbolize the District’s commitment to ensuring that ‘Every Child Matters’ and inspiring all students to reach their full potential and create a positive legacy for the future.

The video above will begin on this agenda item.

Delegations

Agri-Kids Program

Brad Venechuk from Venechuk Farms provided background information about his Langley farm including all the activities and initiatives running in the community and in schools. He started off with the goal of educating the Board about a school program called Agri-Kids. He explained how it started ten years ago with teaching students about hydroponic farms in schools and progressed into other activities and initiatives. As he said, Venechuk Farms helps support many families in the community through food programs (produce and meals) at Raphael House and BGC (Boys and Girls Club). They also work in schools to teach about agriculture education and gardening including Parkside Centennial School as an example. The Agri-Kids program includes a 20-minute interactive session with students complete with worksheets. They go to schools once a month. He explained how in the last year, there were more than 5,000 students in the Fraser Valley that were engaged in their programs. Included in their programming, families can take vegetables home with them. He talked about the ‘living grocery store’ that they have supported at the Raphael House which currently helps families (more than 100 families). He also noted how Venechuk Farms continues to work with District staff on food security programs. He closed his presentation with a positive testimonial of support of the program from a principal in the Fraser Valley.

The video above will begin on this agenda item.

Blacklock Elementary Violin Program

Evangel Biason, a resident in the Blacklock Elementary catchment, presented to the Board about the Blacklock Fine Arts Violin Program. He shared that currently he had two sons at the elementary school and another child at HD Stafford middle school. He said his children were in the violin program and they have benefited from the program which has been in place for the last ten years but has recently ended. He said he learned in the summer that the program, which was run by the Langley Community Music School would not continue. As part of the program, students received 30-40 minutes of violin instruction. To highlight his support of the program, he showed a video of Blacklock students singing and playing the violin. He was told by administrators that the reason it could not continue was due to contractual obligations. He said many families support that the program and want it to continue. 

The video above will begin on this agenda item.

Superintendent’s Reports

Strategic Plan 2023-2026: Year in Review and Year 3 Update

Superintendent Mal Gill started the presentation by giving an overview of the updated Strategic Plan Year 3. He reminded the Board about the three domains: Educational Opportunities, Community of Partnerships, and Operational Priorities. He explained how the plan is guided by the District’s ‘Ensouling our Schools’ model.  He said that since the plan has been in place in 2022 and the implementation of Ensouling our Schools, there has been improvements over the years in transition rates (six-year completion rates) for all learners. He noted how important the data is, but said it is just as important to know the stories of every student. The Strategic Plan is in alignment with the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning. He provided an overview of the implementation goals.

Assistant Superintendent Marcello Moino elaborated on the goals and learning intentions including Effective Professional Learning Community, Trauma-Informed Practice, Universal Design for learning (UDL). Moino said that schools have been working to build professional learning communities to gain an understand the 4 questions of a professional learning community. Moino said that trauma-informed practice is being done at the school and district level. It also includes knowing student stories and knowing their needs. Moino said that all schools need to have one common definition of Universal Design for Learning. One of the goals is working with staff in schools to ensure that UDL is practiced in every classroom to help support priority learners.

Moino showed a slide of the six-year completion rates and reiterated that improvements have been made but more work is needed to ensure every child is successful. The theme of ‘Every Child Matters’ is a part of this work. 

Superintendent Gill closed the presentation by reminding the Board that the Strategic Plan is in alignment with the District’s Framework for Enhancing Student Learning.

Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the update on the Strategic Plan 2023-2026 for information, as presented.

The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

Framework for Enhancing Student Learning 

Deputy Superintendent Woody Bradford started the presentation by informing the Board about how the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (FESL) is a journey of nurturing the gifts of all students. He said the FESL is linked to the system of the District’s Strategic Plan and school action plans. The District is guided by the First People’s Principles of Learning and communication and consultation with stakeholders including students. He explained how the FESL is comprised of three main components: Intellectual Development, Career Development, and Human and Social Development. He showed a slide outlining all the education related goals of the FESL.

Bradford transitioned to outlining five operation goals of the FESL. He said that operations departments are working to support student success and seeing what actions can be done to support priority learners. He invited leaders of operations departments to share their goals and actions of the FESL.

Director of Human Resources Erin Geisinger started her presentation by sharing the department’s vision “to create a supportive and positive culture with employees to enhance both individual and collective influence on student achievement.” She explained how the department “enhances recruitment, retention, and staff wellness and safety to build inclusive, culturally responsive and trauma-informed learning environments that support the success of priority learners across the district.”

She listed some of the departments actions including ongoing recruitment, developing partnerships with post-secondary university, building team capacity, having a dedicated recruiter, wellness attendance support programs, and being available to receive feedback from staff. She provided examples of how these actions are directly and indirectly impacting students. 

Director of Information Technology Matt Williams started his presentation by outlining his department’s goals of the FESL from 2024-2025 which were centered around enhancing services and making improvements. A year later, the department has learned that more focus was needed on understanding and supporting priority learners. The department’s vision is “empowering innovative change through mentorship, relationships and collaborative technological ideas that engage our diverse learning community.”  He shared the all the actions for the department including “developing a report that identifies priority learners and using parameters provided by the District” as the first goal. 

Director of Communications Jo Abshire outlined the work of Communications in telling stories. She said how in the last two years, the department has honed in on sharing stories that show the actions of the FESL, work which will continue moving forward. The FESL goal of communications is to collaborate with schools and departments to develop communication and evidence that outlines the actions supporting the goals of the FESL. The evidence collected are the stories. She shared the actions of sharing stories in schools and in in district departments and how they depict how departmental work impacts the lives of students. Abshire said that the video that was created is a snapshot of what one would find at any of the schools across the district. It shows how operations in particular the Facilities and Maintenance department, IT department, and HR department and their work can have a positive impact on a school such as HD Stafford Middle. After the video, she closed her portion of the presentation by highlighting the collaboration that is done in so many departments and also noted she was proud to work with staff who make it easy to create, celebrate, and share these stories. 

Bradford closed the presentation highlighting the theme of teamwork. He also thanked many staff who were part of developing the FESL document.

Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the 2025-2026 Framework for Enhancing Student Learning for information, as presented.

The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

School Start-up

Assistant Superintendent Marcello Moino presented information about school start-up. He started by sharing the opening of many exciting capital projects including Josette Dandurand Elementary which has a capacity of 555 students and 23 classrooms. Nicomekl Elementary opened with a new 8 modular classroom as well as Lynn Fripps Elementary. He said seismic work at Peter Ewart Middle school is coming to a close and he mentioned the movement of many portables over summer to get sites ready for the start of school. He gave an overview of summer session which saw more than 250 staff working and 4200 students engaged in summer programs. He mentioned preliminary enrolment numbers from June and September which pointed to growth. He also shared the Ministry of Education and Child Care priorities including developing literacy screening in Kindergarten as well as health initiatives such as having naloxone and AEDs in schools. He highlighted the work of the District’s summer learning communications partners which has run for the last two summers, a two-week program dedicated to students with communications needs. Moino closed his presentation with a story highlighting the work of staff who have helped support positive a transition in school.

Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on School Start-up for information, as presented.

The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

Secretary-Treasurer’s Report

Five-Year Capital Plan (Minor Capital Programs) 2026/2027

Recommendation: In accordance with provisions under Section 142 (4) of the School Act, the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) hereby approves the proposed Capital Plan (Minor Capital Programs) for 2026/2027, as provided on the Capital Plan Summary for 2026/2027 submitted to the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

Secretary-Treasurer Iseli provided the minor capital programs section of the Five-Year Capital Plan. He shared a table that contained a list of all the projects that have been requested to the Ministry. Projects included retaining wall remediation at Brookswood Secondary, rewiring of schools (upgrades), food program renovations, and universally accessible playgrounds, among other items.

The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.

Audit Committee

Approval of Audited 2024-2025 Financial Statements

Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves the 2024/2025 Audited Financial Statements and request staff to submit them to the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

Financial Statement Discussion and Analysis

Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves the Financial Statement Discussion and Analysis (FSD&A) be included with the 2024/2025 Financial Statements.

The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

Surplus Restrictions

Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves the following internally restricted surplus amounts, as described in note 12 of the 2024/2025 Audited Financial Statements.

• Internally restricted for commitment 2024/2025 for $2,867,969 
• Internally restricted for initiatives not completed in 2024/2025 for $119,000
• Internally restricted for Indigenous Education for $107,814 
• Internally restricted for Administration Supports for $400,000
• Internally restricted for Clerical Supports for $100,000
• Internally restricted for Exempt Mentorship for $40,000
• Internally restricted for Middle School Initiatives for K-7 schools for $20,000
• Internally restricted for Accessible Playground Equipment for $400,000
• School Generated funds for $2,934,601
• Internally restricted to balance future budgets $3,151,648
• Internally restricted for student capacity needs $3,687,331
• School surpluses $392,071
• Internally restricted for classroom furniture for $400,000
• Internally restricted for ERP replacement for $1,300,000 
• Internally restricted for Project Management costs for Smith Middle/Secondary for $300,000
• Internally restricted for Cyber Security for $145,000 
• Internally restricted for Facility upgrades for $500,000

The Board approved the above motions. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

Interfund Transfers

Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves the transfer of $158,184 from the special purpose fund and $6,298,585 from the operating fund to the capital fund, as described in note 13 of the 2024/2025 Audited Financial Statements.

The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item. 

New Business

Trustee Work Reports