Skip to main content

Highlights: Public Board Meeting – May 1, 2023

| Categories: Board
Board Highlights - May 1, 2023

The Vancouver School Board held its regularly scheduled public meeting on Monday, May 1, 2023. With audience members in attendance, the Board considered several policy updates recommended by the Policy and Governance Committee, the annual budget bylaw and several motions. 

Watch the recording and view the agenda of the meeting. 

Prior to attending to agenda items, Board chair Jung shared information about meeting formats moving forward. Delegation meetings, scheduled the week prior to the Board’s public meetings, will once again welcome members of the delegation presentations, in-person. To create more access for public participation at these meetings, delegation presenters will have the option to present virtually, as well. Public Delegation Board Meetings provide members of the community with the opportunity to present to the Board on matters relating to governance and/or budget.  Information about how to request to present at these meetings is available on the District website. 

Superintendent’s update

Superintendent McGregor provides a regular report to Board and this month, it featured student-organizers of the annual DEI conference. Additionally, McGregor shared details about the return of students and staff at Douglas Elementary, following flood damage that rendered the school uninhabitable over the winter break. She also informed the Board that she has now spent time in every elementary school and secondary school in the District, in addition to highlighting some school-based events. Finally, McGregor provided a preview of the District’s recruiting campaign.

Student trustee report

Mia Liu, student trustee, also provided an update to the Board. She noted VDSC’s Sister School Switch, which is a four-day school exchange where students partner with a student from another school and they shadow each other. This year, 70 students registered to participate in the event. Liu’s update also recapped the input the Vancouver District Student Council (VDSC) gathered regarding the annual budget, which she and fellow VDSC members presented at the stakeholder delegation meeting held in April. Liu also informed the Board of the VDSC’s appreciation for staff work to improve the quality and supply of menstrual products – a key issue raised in their delegation presentation. 

Board Business

The Board received reports from April meetings of the facilities, finance, policy and governance committees in addition to two committee-of-the-whole meetings regarding the annual budget. 

Several motions were considered by the Board. It approved a motion directing staff to develop a plan to address questions about the relocation of the Ideal Mini program to its home-school, Churchill Secondary. Two motions providing funding in the 2023-2024 annual budget were passed. Funding will support student leadership and voice as well as student-led sustainability projects. Three motions were passed, approving policy recommendations from the policy ad governance committee. These included the public interest disclosure act policy, SOGI policy and child care policy.

Three readings of the annual budget by-law were also on the meeting agenda. Without unanimous support for third reading, the budget bylaw could not be passed. A special Board meeting was scheduled, through a motion approved by the Board, to finalize the adoption of the 2023-2024 budget on Wednesday, May 10.

A notice of motion to review and update Board policy 4 (Trustee Code of Conduct) was also provided during the meeting. 

Question Period  

At each regularly monthly meeting, the Board provides an opportunity to public to submit questions to the Board regarding agenda items. The submission form is open from 12:00 p.m. the day of Board meeting and closes after the Board receives committee reports during its meeting. This month, more than 50 questions were submitted. Most questions sought details about the relocation of the Ideal Mini program to Churchill and were responded to by the Chair noting the motion passed earlier in the evening.   Other questions raised and addressed included format details regarding the Board’s committee meetings and details about the annual budget.   

Keep up to date with the District’s committee and Board meetings; see the calendar for meeting dates, agendas and livestream links. All recordings of meetings are housed on the District’s YouTube channel. Minutes from committee and Board meetings are also posted online. 

Back to top