Board Meeting: January 24, 2023
January 23, 2023
Agenda
Delegations
Langley Environmental Partners Society (Amanda Smith and Erin Lavallee)
Erin Lavallee, member of the Langley Environmental Society (LEPS) gave the Board a presentation which outlined the organization, its purpose, and educational activities inside and outside of the classroom. Lavallee explained the organization offers 18 different workshops from Kindergarten to Grade 8 with a focus on environmental themes such as waste management, water conservation, agriculture & food and more. Other activities include supporting schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12 with garbage clean-ups, stormdrain marking, invasive plant control among other learning opportunities. Amanda Smith, member of the Langley Environmental Society (LEPS) highlighted programs including Nature’s Classroom, Langley Learning Farm, and WAVE program.
The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Superintendent’s Reports
District Transitions Goal
Superintendent Mal Gill invited District staff to share the latest data on transition rates (or also commonly known as trends in completion rates or graduation rates). Deputy Superintendent Woody Bradford began the presentation by sharing the various principles and structures that drive the District’s goals to increase and improve transition rates. Bradford acknowledged the key principles of the First People’s Principles of Learning and emphasized the importance of equity and the District’s Ensouling Our Schools initiative in achieving these goals.
Aboriginal Education Program Mike Pue shared a graph outlining the six-year completion rates for all students. As referenced in the graph, he said the District has reached an all-time high in rates for all students which is 95 per cent. He shared a graph depicting the data for first time grade 12 graduation rates which is at an all-time high of 92 per cent. Other data at an all-time high includes the rate for Indigenous learners at 87 per cent and for students with diverse abilities at 85 per cent. However, the data for Children in Youth and Care (CYIC) remains low at 63 per cent, which needs to improve. Pue mentioned the rate for CYIC fluctuates year after year due to the small size of the cohorts.
Langley Secondary School (LSS) Vice Principal Jordan Howlett provided the most recent transition rates from his school. At LSS, the transition rate is 97 per cent for all students and 93 per cent for Indigenous students. He said the transition rate for students in the school’s Focus program which is an alternate program, is 75 per cent. He provided some of the reasons why some students did not graduate including, noting an international student travelling back to their home country, and a student continuing their studies at Langley Education Centre with a plan to graduate as examples.
Vice Principal Brittany Reid provided some insights on the school’s success in transition rates. She shared three main themes. The first is creating a culture of learning, shifting instruction and assessment practices (for example shifting away from negative assessments and focusing more on positive). The second is embracing the idea that every child matters in instructional practice and interventions and acknowledging that all students can learn at high levels. The third is social emotional learning and creating a “sense of belonging” for all students.
Howlett closed the presentation with stories of success from various students in the school. He talked about how having support from multiple trusted adults throughout their careers helped these students get to graduation.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on the District Transitions Goal for information, as presented.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Local Education Agreement
Aboriginal Education Principal Mike Pue provided the Board of Education an overview of the recently adopted Local Education Agreement (LEA) between the Langley School District and Kwantlen First Nation. He began his presentation by reviewing the First People’s Principles of Learning. He provided the background on the creation of the Local Education Agreement and noted it stemmed from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). He said the UNDRIP document highlights how Indigenous People around the world have the right to govern, healthcare, education. In 2019, the province created the Declarations on the Rights of Indigenous People’s Act (DRIPA). At the same time, the BC Tripartite Education Agreement, which is an agreement between the Federal Government, Provincial Government and FNESC and supports First Nations Students only, was also created.
Assistant Superintendent Marcello Moino shared background information around the ACSS and DWP consultation motions which were connected to the most recent Local Education Agreement. As part of the consultation, five motions came out with one of the motions focusing on First Nations “using the BC Tripartite Education Agreement and Local Education Agreements as frameworks to address their desire for student flexibility and priority in the schools they choose to attend…” He explained the Local Education Agreements’ (LEAs) purpose confirms the commitment of the Board and Kwantlen First Nation to build a positive, effective, and collaborative relationship to improve student educational outcomes and to assist students to achieve their full potential.” He shared the values and commitments and principles under the agreement.
In relation to agreements, the District with Indigenous partners are continuing to work together to develop the Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreement. So far, community consultation meetings have taken place to gather feedback. ya:y̓ əstəl̕ (Aboriginal Advisory Committee) will continue to work together to help write the document and have it completed at the start of the school year in 2024.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on the Local Education Agreement for information, as presented.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Secretary-Treasurer’s Reports
Capital Projects Update 2022-2023
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli provided the Board an update on capital projects across the District. He shared the funding breakdown for approved projects including South West Yorkson (Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary), Shortreed Seismic, Vanguard Seismic, and Peter Ewart Seismic. He provided details about each project including the current stage or phase of the project and expected completion or completion, in the case of Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on Capital Projects 2022/2023 for information, as presented.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Annual Review of Trustee Remuneration
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves the increase of 6.3% effective January 1, 2023 based on the 12 month change in Canada Consumer Price Index (CPI) in accordance with Board Policy 7: Board Operation, section 11 and to update the salaries in Policy 7: Board Operation, section 11.1 with the new salaries.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Policy Committee
Policy 8: Board Committees
Recommendation: That the Board of Education serves Notice of Motion to the District’s education community and its education partner groups that it intends to adopt the revisions to Policy No. 8: Board Committees at the April 25, 2023 Regular Board Meeting.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Policy 18: Student Transportation
Recommendation: That the Board of Education serves Notice of Motion to the District’s education community and its education partner groups that it intends to adopt the revisions to Policy No. 18: Student Transportation at the April 25, 2023 Regular Board Meeting.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.