The Vancouver School Board held its first regular meeting of its four-year term Monday, November 28, 2022. The meeting’s agenda included appointments to the Board’s standing committees, trustee school liaisons, and membership to other external civic committees. The meeting also included considerations of matters referred from the Finance Committee, a motion regarding the reinstatement of the School Liaison Officer (SLO) program as well as a notice of motion regarding child care to be referred to the Facilities Planning Committee.

Watch the recording of the meeting.

Meeting highlights

Board chair, Victoria Jung, began the meeting with opening remarks of gratitude to staff for their support to the newly elected Board. On behalf of the Board, she also extended thanks to people who took time last week to share their input about the potential reinstatement of the SLO program. Chair Jung also expressed deep appreciation to retirees who were honoured at events earlier in the month, for their dedication to the education system.

Superintendent’s Highlights

In her first of this Board’s term, superintendent Helen McGregor noted her monthly updates provide an overview of recent events across the District and how they tie to fulfilling the Board’s Education Plan. In her update, she noted the priority kindergarten period which runs from November 1 to January 31. She also highlighted the latest episode of the District’s podcast, VSB: After the bell, which takes a deep dive into all things kindergarten registration. Superintendent McGregor also recognized support staff appreciation day, acknowledge at the District on November 5 annually. She then informed the Board that students and staff have at Weir Elementary School have moved into a new, seismically safe school. Her updated thana noted highlights of the District’s Indigenous Education Pro D day, explaining how it helps the District further its work to continue its reconciliation journey with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. Her report concluded with noting staff’s contributions to the annual United Way campaign.

Student Trustee Report

Student trustee, Mia Liu, provided her monthly report to the Board, noting the Vancouver District Student Council’s (VDSC) funding raising initiative, the Canley Cup. She also provided the Board with students’ perspectives about school counsellors and mental health, and outlined how the VSDS role about items on the Board’s agenda.

Board decisions

The Board considered matters arising from the Finance Committee including approval of 2023-2024 budget development process and timeline, as well as the Statement of Financial Information, 2021-2022.

The Board Chair then reported about private sessions, which included the Board’s decision to proceed to consultation regarding the disposition of Queen Elizabeth Annex as outlined in Board Policy 20: Disposal of land or improvements.

The Board then approved trustee appointments to its standing committees, liaison roles and external civic community memberships.

A notice of motion regarding child care within the District was made and referred to the next facilities planning committee.

Following a short recess, the Board then considered and debated a motion about reinstatement of the SLO program. Following the Board’s deliberation, the motion passed directing staff to write to Chief Constable Palmer of the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) and the Vancouver Police Board to request implementation of a revised and reimagined SLO program, effective and operational no later than September 2023, that takes into consideration the thoughtful inputs and opportunities from the 2021 SLO engagement report along with those from stakeholders and the community. The motion also directs staff to provide updates to the Policy and Governance Committee on progress in development of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the VPD for a reimagined SLO program, and updates on how this program will work collaboratively with the Safe and Caring Schools team.

Question Period

At each regularly monthly meeting, the Board provides an opportunity to public to submit questions to the Board. 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. Three questions were submitted and addressed by the chair. The topic ranged from operational matters such as ventilation in school and hiring educational assistants to the Board matter regarding the consideration to reinstate thee SLO program.

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.