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 – June 2020
Community Presentations
Two presenters: a District counsellor and a Mobile Youth Services Team (MYST) member presented on the role School Liaison Officers play in schools, their specialized training through a harm reduction lens that is trauma-informed, and the types of programs, workshops, and supports they provide.
Strategic Plan 2020-2025
The Board approved the renewal of the five-year strategic plan. The plan focuses on three goals:
- Create an inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment that will support and improve all learners’ personal and academic success.
- Create a culturally responsive learning environment that will support Indigenous learners’ personal and academic success.
- Create an inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment that will support all learners’ physical and mental well-being.
For more details on the strategic plan: www.sd61.bc.ca/news-events/media-releases/title/greater-victoria-school-board-renews-five-year-strategic-plan/
School Liaison Officers
A motion passed directing the Superintendent to form an ad hoc committee to review the current School Liaison Program for concerns and potential changes to the program. The Terms of Reference will be approved by the Board in September.
2020-2021 Budget
The 2020-21 annual budget bylaw in the amount of $253,6060,307 received third reading. Due to the pandemic, the budget is intended to provide the most stability, least disruption and most continuity for learning next year. Consultation input from ThoughtExchange, Student Symposium, Talking Tables and presentations from GVTA and CUPE 947 informed the 2020-2021 budget process.
The upcoming budget includes a new envelope of money from the Ministry of Education. The new Equity of Opportunity Grant will provide an additional $1.1M for children and youth in care, children and youth receiving non-clinical mental health supports, and students in the bottom half of Canadian after-tax income distribution.
For more information on the input collected and board budget presentations visit: www.sd61.bc.ca/our-district/financial/
Annual Five Year Capital Plan
The Board approved its annual five-year capital plan for submission to the Ministry of Education. The plan includes increased capacity at Sundance Elementary, 12 seismic upgrades with Cedar Hill Middle School and Shoreline Middle School being first and second priority, and other capital projects under the School Enhancement, Building Envelope, and Carbon Neutral Capital programs. The plan also includes four school buses to continue the District’s initiative to eliminate contracted bussing.