Board of Education Meeting Highlights – September 2020

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 – September 2020

Board’s Annual Work Plan

The Board Chair reported on the Board’s upcoming governance items for the month of October. An annual work plan has been developed to inform the public and educational partners about the Board’s annual and emergent activities, as well as give them an opportunity to plan accordingly or prepare for upcoming conversations. To review the Board’s Annual Work Plan: www.sd61.bc.ca/board-of-education/governance-framework-and-annual-work-plan/

Foundation Skills Assessment Testing

A motion that would allow follow up with parents and guardians regarding Foundation Skills Assessment testing after opting out, failed.
In recognition of the unique circumstances facing schools due to COVID-19, the Ministry of Education has announced the administration of the FSA is being postponed until January 18-February 26, 2021.

School Police Liaison Officers

The Board approved the Terms of Reference for the Police Liaison Officer Ad Hoc Committee. This committee will review the current School Liaison Program for potential concerns and provide recommendations if required to make changes to the program.

Audit Committee Report

KPMG, the District’s external auditors, presented the District’s 2019-2020 Financial Statements and  Audit Report. They reported a clean audit with no errors or adjustments. Upon review of the audited financial statements, the Board approved $17.9 million in an operating surplus to be allocated as follows:

  • $2,574,311 to school level funds
  • $5,207,301 to unspent project budgets
  • $560,082 to purchase order commitments
  • $2,561,246 to COVID-19 contingency
  • $7,046,806 to balance 2020-21 budget (approved in May 2020)

Federal Safe Return to Class Spending Plan

The Board approved the spending plan for the 2020-21 Federal Return to Class Grant Funding, allocating $6.6 million to COVID-19 related priorities. In developing the plan, input from school principals, staffs, Nations, parent advisory councils, educational partners, and District department leaders was sought to identify priorities. Our learning community identified the following as priorities:

  • Provision of programming to students not returning to in-class learning at the outset
  • Staffing to hold “room” in the school organization/classes for hybrid, Indigenous students, and immunocompromised students to return to in-class learning during 2020-21
  • Supervision
  • Cleaning frequency
  • Hand hygiene
  • Technology hardware and software
  • Other supports requested by Principals and Departments
  • Flexibility for Principals to choose services and supplies (outdoor learning) or staffing (Education Assistants or Teachers)

As a result, the Board allocated funding for 26 additional teachers, 535 educational assistant hours per week, and 404 custodial hours per week.  In addition, more cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer will be purchased for each classroom. For more details on the spending plan details visit: https://pub-sd61.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=355

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