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 – May 2020
2020-2021 School Calendar Approved
The Board of Education approved the dates for all of the Board of Education and Standing Committee meetings in the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Meeting dates: www.sd61.bc.ca/news-events/calendars/
Specialty Academy Fees
After consultation with Parent Advisory Councils, The Board of Education approved publishing the fee structure for the following Specialty Academies also known as Secondary Programs of Choice:
- Esquimalt High School Rugby Academy
- Lambrick Park Diamond for Excellence Baseball and Softball Academy
- Reynolds Secondary Centre for Soccer Excellence Academy
- Spectrum Hockey Skills Academy
For annual academy fees: www.sd61.bc.ca/programs/programs-of-choice/
*Consistent with District policy, no student will be excluded due to financial hardship. For District hardship policy: www.sd61.bc.ca/our-district/documents/name/policy-6159-hardship/
2020-2021 Budget Update
The Board approved carrying forward an approximate $7 million dollars in year end surplus and previous years’ reserves to balance the budget for the 2020-2021 school year. 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. A third reading of the Budget Bylaw is scheduled on June 22nd, at the next Board of Education meeting.
Craigflower and Shoreline Seismic Projects
Craigflower Elementary and Shoreline Middle schools both require significant seismic mitigation and through its capital planning department, the District has explored options for upgrading both schools. The Board has directed the Superintendent to provide a public consultation plan for Board approval featuring a range of potential options, including the closure of Craigflower Elementary and the relocation of the school to an expanded Shoreline Middle school site for a K-8 configuration, among others.