Category: Chair’s Update

In February our board’s focus is on inclusion. Inclusion means being and feeling accepted. It means ensuring equal access, resources and opportunities to those that might otherwise not be able to participate due to a variety of barriers.

Welcome back to all staff and students! It is wonderful that we are able to return to in person learning again. In January our focus is on ethics and as 2020 came to a close I reflected on the challenges and complications the year provided in the context of ethics.

November saw increased COVID cases and the board returning to virtual meetings only. On a positive note transmissions rates and cases in schools are low allowing us to continue to deliver face to face education to our learners. We feel privileged to continue to have our schools be safe places to learn.

At the time of writing, we still do not know 100% the results of the provincial election. It is safe to say however, that the NDP has won a majority government. It is the hope of many districts throughout the province that our co-governance relationship will remain intact, and that our agreements and funding during this pandemic will continue.

The last few weeks have been a time of transition. Students transitioning back into the school system after, for some, the longest Spring Break ever; Teachers and Educational Assistants transitioning back into the classrooms with new health and safety guidelines, as our students work through the usual back-to-school sniffles and sore throats, but now with enhanced attention.

Having spent the majority of my summer watching in awe as our district staff hustled to ensure a safe and welcoming school year, I must begin my report by showing my appreciation to all staff for their efforts. For those who worked on the preparation as well as those who will be working in the schools with our students tomorrow and onward, I commend you and I thank you!

I would like to begin this report by once again thanking those in our district who have gone above and beyond in keeping our education system moving through-out the last few months. Hopefully many have seen the ‘Thank You’ that we Trustees placed in the Coast Reporter last week as a token of our appreciation.

Once again, my Board Report remains in the virtual world. Thanks to technology, we have actually had a very busy month. This month has been chock-full of emails and Zoom meetings; Keeping in constant contact with the Superintendent on district happenings, listening to the Minister of Education on plans to re-open schools in a safely phased plan, keeping the board up-to-date on all the goings-on and listening to concerns from parents and students. It has been an ever-changing scenario, and while we sit back and wait, we still have to keep moving

With all the craziness of the last few weeks, I find writing about the activities of the Board a little daunting. Yes, we have been kept in the know, we have been a part of the virtual meetings and have made sure that despite delving into the unknown, the district’s goals, values, and of course, policies, are being adhered to. Having already set in place these guidelines through our Strategic Plan, I honestly feel that our district has the navigational needs it requires.

The month of February was focused on our value, Inclusion, and we are now heading into Collaboration and Equity. How better to model this than by participating in a team-building retreat. On the 21st of February, our board spent the day together with senior staff at the beautiful Botanical Gardens in West Sechelt, discussing ways to further connect our team and enhance our work on the board by opening up the communication channels and setting a place at the table for all.