Board News: May 24, 2022
May 23, 2022
Announcements
In light of the one-year anniversary of the discovery of the remains of 215 children buried at the site of a former residential school on the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc First Nation in Kamloops, the Board chair read a statement. Thereafter, the Board held a moment of silence to honour survivors of Residential schools, families, and those who lost their lives.
The Board chair also acknowledged and expressed condolences to the victims and families of a school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.
Secretary-Treasurer’s Reports
2022-2023 Annual Budget Bylaw (First and Second Reading)
Brian Iseli, Secretary-Treasurer, presented the 2022-2023 Annual Budget to the Board. He gave an overview of various budget assumptions for the next school year. Some examples include a projected increase in student enrolment and a slight decline projected in ISP students. Larger expenses costing the District include benefit changes, collective agreement increase for teachers and CUPE, Admin and exempt wage increases. The District’s budget bylaw is $294,199,666 for the 2022-2023 school year.
Iseli provided breakdowns in numbers for the following financial categories: Operating Funds, Revenues, Grants, Tuition Revenue, Operating Expenses by Source. He explained the increasing costs related to increasing teacher salary, administrator salary, and SEA and support staff wages, which make up the bulk of the operating expenses. Iseli listed all of the increase and decrease in supplies as part of the budget, many of which were one-time costs. He also talked about examples of local capital purchased from the Operating Fund which included computer equipment & technology support, furniture and equipment, software, and vehicles to upgrade the aging fleet.
The District is at a deficit budget of $770,673, meaning the District will be using $770,673 of the accumulated surplus to balance the 2022-2023 budget. Iseli presented the Board with a three-year budget forecasting which is a new element to budget planning. He says the purpose of longer-tern budget forecasting is to assist in formulating strategies, plan for the future, and to align our goals across the entire organization. He shared projected data for the next three years with the Board and noted that if the status quo continues, the budget will grow over time due to increasing expenses and inflation.
To close the presentation, Iseli explained the process moving forward which includes first and second reading at tonight’s meeting, and third reading at the next Regular Board Meeting. He also announced the District is hosting a Virtual Budget Open House for the public on June 2, 2022. It is an opportunity for members of the community to have their questions answered and provide feedback to the District. Iseli reminded the Board and the community about the budget consultation survey which was completed in March. The results from the survey have been made available on the District website.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2022/2023 in the amount of $294,199,666 be given first reading.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2022/2023 in the amount of $294,199,666 be given second reading.
The Board approved all of the above motions. The video above will begin on this agenda item
Superintendent’s Reports
District Flags
Superintendent Mal Gill provided background regarding the District flags which have been at half-mast since the Summer of 2021 in honour of residential school survivors, their families, and those who did not make it home. Gill summarized how the Board passed a motion for staff to consult with ya:y̓əstəl̕ on next steps. This presentation was an update. Gill introduced Kwantlen First Nation elder Cheryl Gabriel and District principal of Aboriginal Education Mike Pue.
Mike Pue provided background information on the lowering of the flags and how it stemmed from the BC government decision to put flags at half-mast as a result of the discovery of remains at the site of a former residential school on the Tk’emlúps te Secwe̓pemc First Nation in Kamloops. The Langley Board of Education made the decision to keep the flags at half-mast for an extended period. Cheryl Gabriel proceeded with sharing personal stories from her family experiences and impacts due to residential schools. In a heartfelt and powerful presentation, Gabriel called on the District to work with local First Nation leaders via ya:y̓əstəl̕ on educating and empowering Aboriginal students and continuing to lead the District community with the journey of Truth and Reconciliation.
Mike Pue outlined suggested next steps for the Board to consider. He noted the flags were lowered as a grieving process and remain a symbol of a grieving period. As he explained, all things have protocol and process and even in grieving there are steps and movement forward. He said the guidance from local First Nation leaders via ya:y̓əstəl̕ to hold an honouring ceremony on May 31. As part of that ceremony, District flags will be raised. Also, the First Nation leaders expressed that their needs to be a way for the District to never forget, and to create a memorial to honour residential school survivors. Pue presented suggested Board motions for the Board to consider.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education follow the guidance of ya:y̓əstəl̕, the leadership of Matsqui, Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations and the recommendation of District staff to do the following:
- Host an honouring ceremony on May 31, 2022, after which all flags at all SD35 sites will be returned to full mast.
- Request further consultation to gain guidance from ya:y̓əstəl̕ and the leadership of Matsqui, Kwantlen, Katzie and Semiahmoo First Nations around the establishment of a more permanent memorial to honour residential school survivors and those that did not return.
The Board approved all of the above motions. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Langley’s Youth Engagement Project
Superintendent Mal Gill introduced the presenters working on the Youth Engagement Project (YEP) which included Magdy Ghobrial, District principal of School Safety Wellness and Diversity, Iha Hayer, District vice principal, Enhanced Student Services – Children in Care, and Langley RCMP Corporal Craig van Herk.
RCMP Corporal Craig van Herk shared the background on why the Langley Youth Engagement Project was started. He shared the project stemmed from a community tragedy in 2019 which resulted in the death of a student in Langley. He explained this tragedy compelled the leaders of the RCMP and the Langley School District to meet and brainstorm how to change, and ensure strategies were developed to support all youth in Langley. The group of adults began working but it was decided early on that it was important to include the youth voice in the process. As the momentum grew, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and brought challenges.
Iha Hayer continued explaining the timeline of the YEP process which included a series of meetings with Community Partners and youth over the last two years. The goal during the process was to ensure trauma informed practices were being followed to ensure the safety of students.
When engaging students at the forum, staff had three guiding questions for youth at the forum. Hayer shared the overarching themes which included the following: community collaboration approach, accessibility – resources, services, transportation, healthy accessible adults, and safe spaces (trauma-informed stigma free) – in community and school.
Hayer closed with the opportunities and next steps. She talked about the excitement of the Foundry Langley opening but cautioned that support is needed on many fronts. The next steps are to get to work on the actions with the community partners, share a roadmap with adults and start clear path for the youth we serve.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on Langley’s Youth Engagement Project 2021-2022 for information, as presented.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Summer Session
District principal of Summer Session Sam Muraca provided an update on Summer Session. He shared background information including registration, which opened in April 20, beginning with SD35 students followed by non-SD35 students and out of Langley students in the following weeks. He shared 1,800 students had registered for elementary and middle, and more than 750 at secondary. He shared the types of programs offered from skill-builder courses, explorations, and vulnerable youth programs for students. He outlined important dates.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on Summer Session 2022 for information, as presented.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.