Regular Board Meeting: June 16, 2026
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.
Announcements
National Indigenous History Month & National Indigenous People’s Day
Board Chair Candy Ashdown made an announcement to acknowledge June as National Indigenous History Month. This year is also the 30th anniversary of National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21, a date of deep cultural and spiritual importance that supports the ongoing journey of Truth and Reconciliation while celebrating Indigenous brilliance. Ashdown said that this year also marks a milestone for Langley Schools graduates, who are the first cohort to have recognized Orange Shirt Day throughout their entire K–12 experience. She said it is a time to celebrate achievements and reflect on our shared commitment to inclusion and equity, guided by Tsimalano’s (Vince Stogan – Musqueam Elder) teaching of “Hands back and Hands forward,” which calls us to honour culture, language, land, and Indigenous worldviews. Ashdown encouraged everyone to continue learning and engaging with Indigenous perspectives through authentic literature, films, and community cultural experiences.
The above video will begin on this agenda item.
Pride Month
Board Chair Candy Ashdown made an announcement to acknowledge June as Pride Month. She said it is a time to celebrate the freedom to be ourselves and express our identities with pride. Across the District, staff and students are engaging in school-led activities and events to honour Pride Month and support the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. These celebrations highlight the important contributions of 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals and the progress made toward safety and inclusion, while also acknowledging the ongoing work needed to achieve true equality.
The above video will begin on this agenda item.
Statement Regarding Willoughby Elementary School Partnership
Board Chair Candy Ashdown made a statement in regard to Willoughby Elementary and the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in partnership with the Township of Langley and the Ministry of Infrastructure (signed February 5, 2026). She reaffirmed the Board’s support for the initiative that would build a new Willoughby Elementary on a different site as per the MOU. She said that the Board wants staff and community members to know that the Board unequivocally supports the partnership, exploration of the replacement of the school, and the ongoing process involved. The Board remains fully supportive of District staff’s work and collaboration with Township staff and that the Board is committed to keeping the community informed and working with community partners.
The above video will begin on this agenda item.
Superintendent’s Reports
Annual Board Development Plan
Superintendent Mal Gill provided an update on the Annual Board Development Plan. He gave background on the work of the Board and provided an overview of the areas of responsibility. He listed the nine items of responsibilities that trustees undertake, from accountability to the Provincial Government, Strategic Planning, Policy, and Board Development, Fiscal Responsibility, among other examples. Board development includes a continuous work plan. Over the last couple of years, the Board had experienced consultants, including Mike McKay, former Superintendent of Surrey Schools and Suzanne Hoffman, past CEO of BCSTA, come in to help with the facilitation of Board evaluation. Gill went over the list of meeting dates that have occurred from November 2022 – June 2026.The last session was to reflect over the four years; maintaining good practice and where to make improvements. Moving forward, the Board will be updating the Trustee Handbook in August. He closed his presentation by thanking the Board for knowing and understanding their role and supporting the work of the Board to help support students.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the update on the Annual Board Development Plan for information, as presented.
The report was approved as presented. The video will begin above the agenda item.
Annual Truth and Reconciliation Update
Colleen Hannah, Director of Instruction for Indigenous Education, introduced herself in her native language of tsilchan (which is the language spoken in the Vernon area of the Okanagan). She opened her presentation with a beautiful photo of the Kwantlen First Nation reserve land and the Fraser River, which is part of the land that the Langley School District resides on. She said “Excellence is measured in generations,” making note that many things have happened for this last generation of students in our District when it comes to Aboriginal Education. As she said, this is the first generation of students that have recognized Orange Shirt Day and are understanding reconciliation. We are also remembering Tsimalano’s (Vince Stogan – Musqueam Elder) teaching of “Hands back and Hands forward,” which reminds staff of our work to question how to recognize First Nations students and how we bring forward the work into our schools. Recently, she shared how she witnessed three Metis students (grads) being sashed at Langley Fine Arts, which is of important cultural significance. She reminded the Board of the Aboriginal department’s guiding principle of “One heart, one mind” in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓. She explained the cultural learning that was done recently with both the Kwantlen and Musqueam First Nations as an example of the work in action.
She described the meaning of “Learning Lens” in the District’s work. Learning lens learning ultimately supports the well-being of the self, the family, the community, the land, the spirits, and the ancestors. She continued to outline how learning is holistic. Learning involves recognizing the consequences of once’s actions. Learning recognizes the role of Indigenous Knowledge. She shared a graphic from the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement which remains in progress to illustrate this ongoing work. The graphic includes the word “belonging” at the centre of the circle, and around the circle there are words around it including “safe spaces,” “representations,” “relationship.”
She shared photos of various learning opportunities in Aboriginal Education over the last school year. At Fort Langley Elementary, students took part in a cultural parade. She has witnessed non-Indigenous students and Indigenous students come together and learn hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓.
At Katzie First Nations last week a family gathering was held with children and youth of all ages. It was a sharing and learning opportunity involving the wider community.
At Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ language teacher Sesmelot was sharing stories with students and families as part of the school’s oral storytelling evening.
At Alex Hope, a celebration was held to honour artist Carlyn Andres, who had designed a mural at the school.
Lastly, she closed the presentation sharing a photo of the Golden Eagles (Indigenous grads) who were celebrated at the Aboriginal Achievement Awards. She reflected back on how it was a night of pride for students and is a reminder of the journey of Reconciliation that each student has been on.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the update on Truth and Reconciliation for information, as presented.
The report was approved as presented. The video will begin above the agenda item.
Secretary-Treasurer’s Reports
2026-2027 Budget Bylaw (Third Reading)
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli updated the Board and shared an overview of the 2026-2027 budget and closed with the recommended board motions.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education directs staff to appropriate the following Restricted Surplus amounts to balance the 2026/27 Annual Budget:
Internally restricted to balance future budgets: $547,726
Internally restricted for ERP replacement: $354,611
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2026/27 in the amount of $429,622,056 be given third reading, passed and adopted on this 16th day of June 2026.
The Board approved the above motions. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Five-Year Capital Plan 2027-2028
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli shared an overview of the five-year capital plan. He provided the Board an overview of the submission timelines. He explained how capital project submissions made in 2025-2026 will have approvals for the Ministry’s fiscal year 2027-2028. He shared a list of the major capital projects. He said there are short-term priorities such as modular additions and long-term priorities such as site acquisitions. The plan and list of projects reflects how the District is behind in capital projects in reference to adding student spaces to support the continued growth in Langley.
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 Five-Year Capital Plan (Major Capital Programs) for 2027/2028, as provided on the attached Major Five-Year Capital Plan Summary for 2027/2028 to be submitted to the Ministry of Infrastructure.
The report was approved as presented. The video will begin above the agenda item.
Three-Year Financial Plan
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli shared an overview of the three-year financial plan. He explained that it was required by the Ministry for boards to develop a three-year financial plan. Iseli shared some items from the plan including revenue and expenses over the next three years.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves the Three-Year Year Financial Plan, as presented.
The report was approved as presented. The video will begin above the agenda item.
School Site Acquisition Charge (SSAC)
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli provided an overview of the School Site Acquisition Charge (SSAC). Iseli said it is a requirement of the Local Government Act. He said the purpose of the SSAC is to collect funds from developers to assist in paying part of the costs of new school sites. He noted the process is completed annually.
He shared development and student projections, a list of eligible school sites, and the current formula for the charge. He explained the next steps in the process, which would be to adopt the eligible school sites and once completed, the District would need to inform the municipalities of the charge.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves the Eligible School Sites, as presented.
The report was approved as presented. The video will begin above the agenda item.
Amended Annual Five-Year Capital Plan
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli provided an update on capital projects the District will be undertaking.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) (Capital Plan 2026/2027) Capital Bylaw No. 2026/27-CPSD35-02 be given first reading.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) (Capital Plan 2026/2027) Capital Bylaw No. 2026/27-CPSD35-02 be given second reading.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves having all three readings of the (Capital Plan 2026/2027) Capital Bylaw No. 2026/27-CPSD35-02 at tonight’s meeting.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) (Capital Plan 2026/2027) Capital Bylaw No. 2026/27-CPSD35-02 be given third reading, passed and adopted on this 16th day of June 2026.
The Board approved the above motions. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Policy Committee
Notice of Motion Return: Policy 2: Role of the Board
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves Policy 2: Role of the Board, as presented.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Notice of Motion: Policy 5: Role of the Board Chair
Recommendation: That the Board of Education serves Notice of Motion to the District’s education community and its education partner groups that it intends to adopt the revisions to Policy 5: Role of the Board Chair at the September 22, 2026 Regular Board Meeting.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Notice of Motion: Policy 8: Board Committees
Recommendation: That the Board of Education serves Notice of Motion to the District’s education community and its education partner groups that it intends to adopt the revisions to Policy 8: Board Committees at the September 22, 2026 Regular Board Meeting
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Trustee Work Reports
Question Period