Board Meeting: September 24, 2024
September 23, 2024
The Regular Meeting of the Langley Board of Education was held in-person and streamed online.
Agenda
Announcements
Board Chair Candy Ashdown made a statement to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Ashdown said it was important to recognize both days in schools. She described Orange Shirt Day as an Indigenous grass roots-led commemorative day that raises awareness of the intergenerational impact of residential schools and that promotes the concept of “Every Child Matters.” As she said, the orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture in residential schools. She went further and said that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a fulfillment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call To Action #80, to honour survivors, families, and communities. She closed by saying the Board reaffirms the District’s commitment to learning the truth and aligning action to make sure that every child matter.
Delegations
Community Justice Initiatives Association
Marcela Villaca with Community Justice Initiatives Association provided an overview of the organization. Villaca started the presentation by outlining the organization’s purpose, to promote peacemaking, reconciliation and the resolution of conflict through the development and application of restorative justice values and principles. She went over some basic definitions including restorative action. She reviewed the three tiers of restorative action including tier 1 (relationship and community building), tier 2 (restorative responses to conflict, harm disagreements), and tier 3 (responding to serious harm, reintegration). In her role, she said she works with different schools and with students through mediation and leading peace circles. She then explained the two approaches to justice which include retributive justice and restorative justice. The work of her and her staff involves determining what feelings can be seen and not seen in youth. She ended the presentation by asking everyone in attendance to reflect on a time when they experienced harm and a time that they caused harm. The association has been working with the Langley School District for more than 24 years. She closed with a request for more support from the District.
The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Superintendent’s Reports
Strategic Plan 2023-2024
Superintendent Mal Gill shared an update on the District’s Strategic Plan. He began his presentation by sharing the vision and the District’s goal in “creating compassionate and inclusive social and academic learning communities that provide access to every learner.” He noted some of the highlights in the Strategic Plan which include educational opportunities, operational priorities, and community partnerships. The plan contains actions, goals, and performance indicators.
One of the priorities for the District is to focus on priority learners. He said that the District does that work through all the major documents including the Strategic Plan, the Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (District level), the Action Plan for Learning (school level), and the Growth Plan for Learning (staff level). He said the plans help ensure students can reach their full potential. He gave an overview of the District’s three block model ”Ensouling our Schools,” which includes Systems & Structures, Instructional Practice, and Social Emotional Learning. He showed the Board the District’s five-year completion rates, and the District’s Six Year Completion rates, which indicated a positive trend. He talked about the District’s need to focus on priority learners, Children and Youth in Care, Indigenous students, and students with diverse abilities. He went over some of the examples of work being done in schools to support these groups of students. He listed examples of Trauma Informed Practices being done at the school and district level. He made note of the implementation of the teaching and learning framework at the school and district level. He also mentioned the implementation of district-wide professional development on universal design of learning (UDL). He then moved on to operations and provided a capital update which included approved projects such as the upcoming NE Latimer Elementary and recently announced Lynn Fripps modular expansion. Lastly, he mentioned the work of school leads and the collaborative actions, where groups of employees act to support staff well-being.
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 presented the District’s Framework for Enhancing Student Learning (FESL). Bradford began by explaining the FESL has three directions from the Ministry of Education and Child Care: to improve educational outcomes for all students, focus on ‘The Educated Citizen’, and enable through capacity building, strategic planning, and coordinated implementation reporting. He said the FESL is the Action Plan for Learning for the District that helps fulfill the goals of the Strategic Plan. One of the goals in the FESL is human and social development. Another goal is intellectual development. The last goal is career development. Among these goals, the District is also focusing on priority learners. As he said, actions in the schools have a lot of success for a majority of students but not for everyone. There are still areas of growth and opportunities for priority learners. He explained the FESL process and how it is sent to the Ministry for feedback. One of the areas that needed work included reflections and the data that the District was collecting. There is specific criteria for success requested from the Ministry including data evidence and review, ongoing engagement, alignment and adaptations, improving equity of learning outcomes, focus on priority learners, and continuous improvement.
District Principal of Aboriginal Education, Mike Pue said we are “trying with the FESL to change the system to fit the student.” The District is guided by data but it is just a representation of students who have their own stories. Pue showed District data for grade 4 literacy and grade 7 literacy. He noted that there are shifts in literacy as students move from intermediate to middle school years. He talked about the existing and emerging areas of growth in each pillar of the FESL. He added the District is looking at the numerical quantity of data as well as the stories and feedback from students.
District Principal of Instructional Services and Inclusive Education, Kendra Simonetto talked about intellectual development targeted actions. She reviewed the various categories including K-5 literacy scope and sequence, middle school literacy, priority learners, numeracy, and prioritized learning standards. She went over the targeted actions for each pillar of the FESL including human and social development and career development. Examples of actions for career development include Capstone, successful transitions, and expanding pathways & opportunities.
Deputy Superintendent Woody Bradford said the District has begun to engage with operational departments to understand and align their departmental plans to focus on priority learners. The phase of the FESL is now to implement this. He noted one of the highlights in this process was engaging with secondary students to get their feedback on the FESL and hear from them on how to support students. Moving forward, the schools will be working on their action plans for the current school year to ensure that it is in alignment with the FESL.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
School Start-up
Assistant Superintendent Marcello Moino provided an update on School Start-up and talked about the process involved for the District to get ready for school. He gave a brief summary of summer session which included the number of sites in operation, the number of students and staff members. In this past summer, there were 3800 registrants, with 15 per cent of students in the District taking a course. He talked about registration which continued in the summer and the work of staff at the Welcome Centre. He listed all the work of the different departments that work diligently to prepare for the start of school in September, including IT and Facilities and Maintenance. He outlined what happens at the school level and the work being done to ensure students get a warm welcome on the first day they arrive. He reported on new initiatives at school including digital devices in schools. He shared an example of a new start-up initiative at Brookswood Secondary School for the grade 8 cohort, which featured the school’s Catpack digital literacy program. The program is a learning opportunity for students and staff to learn digital literacy on the first day of school.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Naming of NE Latimer Elementary School
Superintendent Mal Gill outlined Policy 19 which is the process of naming schools. He went over considerations including geographical names and names of individuals who have made outstanding contributions. The process of naming a new school will begin as soon as possible. He shared the timeline for the process. Suggestions from the public will need to be submitted by October 28, 2024. Thereafter, the Board will announce the name at the December Board meeting. Instructions on how to submit a name are found on the District website here.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education requests the Superintendent commence the process for naming the future NE Latimer Elementary School as per Policy 19: Naming of Schools
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Secretary-Treasurer Reports
Five Year Capital Plan (Minor Capital Programs) 2025/26
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 a connection to sanitation at Noel Booth, food programs, universal 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 2023-2024 Financial Statements
Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves the 2023/2024 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 (FSD&A)
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 2023/2024 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 2023/2024 Audited Financial Statements and request staff to submit them to the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
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 2023/2024 Financial Statements.
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 2023/2024 Audited Financial Statements:
- Internally restricted for commitment 2023/2024 for $3,022,083
- Internally restricted for initiatives not completed in 2023/2024 for $139,000
- Internally restricted for Administration supports for $445,000
- Internally restricted for Middle school initiatives for K-7 schools for $50,000
- Internally restricted for Accessible playground equipment for $400,000
- School Generated funds for $2,862,690
- Internally restricted to balance future budgets $2,936,333
- Internally restricted for student capacity needs $3,607,331
- School surpluses $428,032
- Internally restricted for classroom furniture for $420,000
- Internally restricted for ERP replacement for $950,000 Internally restricted for Project Management costs for Smith Middle/Secondary for $300,000
- Internally restricted for Cyber security for $250,000
- Internally restricted for Facility upgrades for $600,000
- Restricted for future District capital contributions $30,919
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 $70,329 from the special purpose fund and $10,304,214 from the operating fund to the capital fund, as described in note 13 of the 2023/2024 Audited Financial Statements.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Trustee Comments
Question Period