Geoff Manning

The meeting included several key agenda items. The Superintendent acknowledged the support from the City of Campbell River regarding portable installation approvals and mentioned upcoming district events, including a Skills Canada competition and a musical theatre performance. The Board received a report summarizing confidential matters discussed, including staff changes and property/legal/financial issues. Discussions involved pending receipt of the 2024/2025 "How Are We Doing Report" on Indigenous student achievement. The Board approved draft school calendars for 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029. Furthermore, the Board successfully adopted the revised Bylaw No. 2 -- Trustee Elections and Board Governance Policy 1 -- Role of the Board through all three required readings. Other actions included approving amendments to the Deferred Salary Leave Plan, approving the Braille 11 Board/Authority Authorized (BAA) course proposal, reviewing the 2025-26 funding grant comparison and the quarterly finance report for the period ending December 31, 2025, and accepting Finance Warrant No. 6 dated December 31, 2025. Committee reports covered planning for professional development, updates from the District Parent Advisory Council, preparation for the October 2026 local elections, and topics discussed at the BC Public School Employers' Association AGM.

Key discussions included Chairperson Gillis's report on a board chairs meeting with government ministers regarding school safety, budget pressures, and the capital plan, emphasizing safety planning as part of school culture. Superintendent Manning recognized student achievements in skills competitions and athletics, provided updates on kindergarten registration, and highlighted Pink Shirt Day. Music educators and students presented on the impact of music programs on belonging and future paths, followed by a choir performance. The Board adopted changes to its board governance policy on meetings and approved a new policy on childcare. The Superintendent presented the 2024-2025 How Are We Doing Report, detailing student achievement metrics, especially noting improvement in completion rates for Indigenous students, while identifying ongoing needs in early literacy and numeracy. The Board approved an amended budget of $95,588,062 for the 2025-2026 school year, reflecting updated enrollment and grant revenue. Finally, the district forecast a projected decline of approximately 105 FTE students for the next school year due to lower birth rates, which is expected to result in an estimated $2 million deficit in the preliminary operating budget for 2026-2027.

The agenda for the Public Board Meeting includes several key items for discussion and potential action. Discussions will cover Board Governance Policy reviews for Policy 15 (Meetings) and Policy 31 (Child Care). Strategic planning will address Honouring Indigenous World Views and Perspectives. Business Administration items involve the Amended 2025-2026 Operating Budget (requiring three readings), the 2026-2027 Enrolment forecast, Guiding Principles for Decision Making, and Finance Warrant No. 7 for January 31, 2026. Additionally, reports from various committees held in early February 2026 will be presented.

The meeting commenced with the Chair's remarks focusing on the importance of the upcoming Indigenous focused professional development day. The Superintendent highlighted district activities for the new year, including the development of the next three-year school calendars and the same professional development day. A confidential board meeting report detailed discussions on teaching, administrative, and support staff changes, as well as property, legal, and financial issues. Notice was given regarding upcoming proposed changes to Board Bylaw 2 and Board Governance Policy 1 related to Trustee Elections. A presentation was given on the reintroduction and updates to the district's online learning programs, starting with grade 11 and 12 courses. An outline was provided for the planned activities for the Indigenous focused learning day scheduled for January 16. The summary of the fall 2025 Foundation Skills Assessment (FSA) results indicated improvements in literacy and numeracy skills for grade 4 and grade 7 students. A request for an update on the Kʷak̓ʷala & Lik̓ʷala K-5 language program was deferred to the next meeting pending a program governance meeting.

The meeting featured remarks from the Board Chair, who discussed upcoming school calendars, kindergarten registration, and literacy initiatives, including support for Indigenous Focused Learning Day. The Superintendent provided an enrollment update, noting 138 kindergarten registrations so far, and highlighted upcoming student opportunities like the Skills Canada competition and a school musical. The Board approved school calendars for the 2026-2027, 2027-2028, and 2028-2029 school years, including a key change moving the first day of school to Wednesday after Labour Day. Governance changes were adopted for the trustee elections bylaw and board role policy. The Board also considered proposed revisions to the governance policy on meetings and a new childcare policy, inviting feedback before a future meeting. Additionally, updates were approved for the deferred salary leave agreement with the teachers' association, and a new Grade 11 braille course was authorized to support visually impaired students. A funding update indicated modest enrolment growth overall, though special education funding decreased slightly despite a provincial trend increase. The second-quarter financial report showed an improved deficit estimate of approximately $740,000, driven by higher revenues and lower expenses in several categories.