Board Meeting: April 23, 2024
April 22, 2024
The Regular Meeting of the Langley Board of Education was held in-person and streamed online.
Agenda
Delegations
Day of Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured
Wendy Cook with the New Westminster Labour Council shared a presentation to mark the Day of Mourning for Workers Killed and Injured, which is on April 28th. The presentation is part of the Council’s request to the Board and other levels of government to take actions to help ensure safe work at workplaces. Cook reported information and statistics outlining injuries and deaths related to people on the job and noted the impacts these incidents have on their families. The Council is calling on employers to ensure safe work, training, and education, which she said is key to prevention of workplace injuries and fatalities. As part of the presentation, she reminded the Board about historic workplace tragedies that have had impacts, including the Westray mine disaster in Nova Scotia in 1992, a tower crane collapse in Kelowna in 2021, and a more recent crane tragedy in Vancouver in 2024. She highlighted the importance of unions in ensuring workplace health and safety. She closed the presentation with an invitation to the public to attend the Day of Mourning Event on Sunday, April 28th at New Westminster Pier Park. After the presentation, Board Chair Candy Ashdown directed everyone to observe one minute of silence to mark the day and to honour workers killed and injured.
Superintendent’s Reports
I.D.E.A. Summit 2024
Superintendent Mal Gill provided some background information about the I.D.E.A. Summit which started in 2016 under the guidance of former Superintendent Gord Stewart.
Kendra Simonetto, District Principal of Instructional Services and Inclusion, opened the presentation sharing the details of the event: Tuesday, May 7th at the Langley Events Centre (Building B – Fieldhouse). Simonetto explained how the event was created to highlight entrepreneurship, ‘socialpreneurship’, and student voice. She mentioned some new elements to this year’s event. She explained that this year, District teachers developed its own resource called the “Entrepreneur & Innovation Project Teacher Guide” for grades 4-7. She listed the benefits of this learning opportunity which include: critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, and collaboration, among other skills. As part of this process, students must have a recycled and upcycled component, are given a cap on spending ($20) to make their product, as well as donate to charity, as was the case in the previous years. Prior to the I.D.E.A. Summit, schools held school-based entrepreneurship fairs. She shared examples of products, from crocheted stuffed animals to horseshoe mug holders. She noted the important partnership and support from the Langley School District Foundation. She shared a video created by Walnut Grove Secondary film students which captures the event from last year. She announced the schedule of events for the day. To close the presentation, she reiterated the benefits of the event and the goal of helping students meet their full potential.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on I.D.E.A. Summit 2024 for information, as presented.
The Board approves the report as presented. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
AP 252: Selection Procedure for Library Learning Common Resources
Superintendent Mal Gill announced to the Board that Administrative Procedure 252 (AP) was presented to the Board in-camera and with the nature of the AP it was deemed appropriate for it to be shared publicly. He explained the District already had an AP that deals with classroom resources but not one that is specific to the Library Learning Commons resources. The difference is that the Library Learning Commons is open and accessible to all students in the school and therefore, as he said, there is an additional layer of responsibility in approving these resources. As outlined in the AP there are set guidelines to determine resources for the Library Learning Commons including: appropriateness to program, social considerations, suitability for students, and instructional and/or technical design. He noted that as part of the AP, there is a reconsideration process. That is, if there is a member of the public raising concerns about a resource in the Library Learning Commons, they have the ability to go through this reconsideration process.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education receives the report on Administrative Procedure 252 – Selection Procedure for Library Learning Commons Resources for information, as presented.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
School Calendars 2024-2025
Kevan Reeve, District Principal of Human Resources provided some background on the school calendars. He says the District continues to work with the school community and stakeholders on the development of these calendars. He noted some of the requirements including a two-week spring break which has been around for many years. He provided other necessary criteria such as the total number of days (187 days) in the school calendar. For this upcoming year, he explained that all elementary schools (31) will be using Student Inclusive Conferences. Reeve listed all the schools with unique calendars including Langley Education Calendar, Langley Fine Arts, Langley Fundamental Middle and Secondary School, Simonds-U-Connect, and Vanguard. He closed the presentation by reporting to the board that all the calendars are in compliance; meeting calendar regulations, meeting minimum hours of instruction, and meeting LTA agreements.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves the School Calendars for the 2024-25 school year, as presented.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
District Calendar 2026-2027 Consultation
Kevan Reeve, District Principal of Human Resources, opened the presentation informing the Board that the calendar 2026-2027 meets all the requirements for calendar compliance. He gave an overview of the public consultation process and results. Of the 40 responses, he said there were three themes: respondents asked for non-instructional days to be placed on weekends to meet four-day weekend, respondents expressed that there were too many non-instructional days and it is difficult to find childcare, and respondents noted concerns around the placement of start and end of breaks (which he noted cannot be changed because the District is required to meet the LTA collective agreement).
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves the District Calendar for school year 2026-2027, as presented.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Secretary-Treasurer’s Reports
Annual Facilities Grant 2024-2025
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli reported to the Board on this year’s annual facilities grant, which he explained is one of many funds from the Ministry of Education and Child Care. He noted that the funding is used to complete minor upgrades at schools across the District.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education approves the Annual Facilities Grant 2024/2025 spending plan, as presented.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Annual Five-Year Capital Plan Bylaw 2024-2025
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli presented the Capital Plan Response Letter update for the District. He noted that the Board is required to pass a bylaw for the Capital Response Letter. As per the Capital Response Letter, the District was approved to move to a business case to build the Smith middle school and a 12-classroom project at RE Mountain Secondary. The Board has also been approved to purchase the SW Latimer project. The Board will need to pass a bylaw to be able to draw funds for approved projects: Aldergrove Secondary Exterior Wall system, kitchen projects, and a wheelchair bus.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) (Capital Plan 2024/2025) Capital Bylaw No. 2024/25-CPSD35-01 be given first reading.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) (Capital Plan 2024/2025) Capital Bylaw No. 2024/25-CPSD35-01 be given second reading.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education of School District No. 35 (Langley) approves having all three readings of the (Capital Plan 2024/2025) Capital Bylaw No. 2024/25-CPSD35-01 at tonight’s meeting.
Recommendation: That the School District No. 35 (Langley) (Capital Plan 2024/2025) Capital Bylaw No. 2024/25-CPSD35-01 be given third reading, passed and adopted on this 23rd day of April 2024.
The Board approved the above motions. The video above will begin on this agenda item.
Notice of Motion: Road Dedication on 76th Avenue and 202A Street
Secretary-Treasurer Brian Iseli provided the Board with the background on the road dedication. This will be put out for notice of motion to the public and will be revisited at the June 18 Regular Board meeting.
Recommendation: That the Board of Education serve notice of motion, to be brought to the June 18, 2024 Regular Board Meeting, of the Road Dedication at 76th Avenue and 202A Street to the Township of Langley at zero cost due to the benefit received at the time of building permit being issued.
The Board approved the above motion. The video above will begin on this agenda item.