The Board of Education Highlights provide updates on presentations and decisions made during the Board Meetings. For more information, please visit our District website where you can view the full agenda and video stream of the meeting: www.sd61.bc.ca/board-of-education/meetings-of-the-board/
Board Meeting Highlights – April 2020
2020-2021 School Calendar Approved
The Board of Education has approved the calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. The calendar highlights non-instructional days, vacation breaks, school openings and last day of classes.
The District collaborated with neighbouring districts in Saanich (School District #63) and Sooke (School District #62) on this calendar to align important dates as much as possible.
2020-2021 School Year Calendar: www.sd61.bc.ca/news-events/calendars/2020-2021-school-year-calendar/
*This calendar is subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic.*
2020-2021 Budget Update
The Board received the Superintendent’s recommended operating budget. Staff’s recommendations outlined a largely status quo operating budget, balanced with this year’s projected surplus and prior years’ reserves. The budget reflected a 48% loss in the international student enrolment program and resulting revenue for 2020-2021. The operating budget presented totalled $210.8 million balanced with $12 million surplus and reserves.
New in the operating grant from the Ministry of Education is the $1.1 million Equity of Opportunity Supplement intended to focus on children and youth in care, children and youth receiving non-clinical mental health supports, and students in the bottom half of the Canadian after-tax income distribution.
During the COVID pandemic, and shifting context for learning that could see itself into the 2020-2021 school year, a status quo budget was reported to provide the most stability, least disruption and most continuity for learning next year.
The Board intends to approve the 2020-2021 budget at its May 25, 2020 Regular Board Meeting via zoom. Information meetings will be held for Trustees and stakeholders on May 4, May 13, and May 20. As well, an Operations Policy and Planning Committee meeting focused on budget, is intended for May 11, 2020 and will be conducted via zoom. Meeting times to be determined.
For more information on the Budget Recommendations: www.sd61.bc.ca/our-district/financial/