The Board of Education Highlights provide updates and brief summaries of decisions made during the monthly Board Meetings. For more information, visit the District website to view the full agenda and videostream of the meeting: www.sd61.bc.ca/board-of-education/meetings-of-the-board/
Board Meeting Highlights – May 2023
Education Policy and Directions Committee
The Board referred Draft Policy 5150 Sanctuary Schools to the Operations Policy & Planning Committee for consideration at the June 12th meeting, to give time for further feedback on the policy from Rightsholders and stakeholders. The draft policy will then be presented to the Board of Education at the June 19th meeting.
Operations Policy and Planning Committee
The Board approved a motion referring the draft revised privacy policy to the Policy Sub-committee. An update on the draft policy will be provided at the June 12th Operations Policy and Planning Committee meeting.
Audit Committee Report
The Board approved the 2022-2023 Audit Planning Report as presented to the Audit Committee.
The Board approved a motion to accept the March 2023 Quarterly Financial Report as presented to the Audit Committee.
Elementary Strings Update
The Board amended a motion adopted at the April 6, 2023 Special Budget meeting. The amended motion states that the Board will fund elementary strings with up to six schools having strings during teacher preparation time, at a minimum cost of $205,351.
Special Board Meeting
A Special Board Meeting was held on May 31, 2023, regarding the School Police Liaison Officer (SPLO) program.
The Board directed the Superintendent to end the SPLO Program and ensure that protocols are established in relation to school emergencies, lockdowns, critical incidents, violent threat risk assessments, and ongoing District tracking of all student interactions with police while in the care of the Board of Education.
The Superintendent will provide the Board with a list of the services no longer provided by SPLOs and suggestions for service provision moving forward.
The Board directed the Board Chair to write to the Ministry of Education and Child Care and the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General urging them to immediately commission research into the impacts of SPLO programs on K-12 students in BC.
The Board directed the Board Chair to write to the Minister of Education and Child Care and the Premier requesting that the provincial government commit to adequate ongoing funding for civilian alternatives to SPLOs. The goal is for school districts to have adequate resources to deliver necessary services through the education system utilizing appropriately trained, certified, and regulated professionals.
The next Board meeting will be held on Monday, June 19, 2023.