Highlights - Board Meeting – Feb. 16, 2021
The Abbotsford Board of Education regularly meets throughout the school year. Agendas and minutes from the public Board Meetings can be accessed through the District's Electronic School Board. Below is a summary of highlights from the meeting. To do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and for everyone's safety, all public meetings of the Abbotsford Board of Education will be closed to the public and held virtually until further notice. The meetings will also be live-streamed.
Education
Superintendent’s Annual Report on Student Achievement
Superintendent Godden presented a high-level summary of the strategic plan progress reports that the Board of Education has received over the last four months. The information from this report will form the basis for the Board’s annual Measuring Up Report, which will be distributed in March 2021.
Video: 2019/20 Strategic Plan
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Toti:ltcha Future Learning Plan - Restart Strategy
Since September 2020, the district has utilized Toti:ltcha, our future learning plan, as a guide to support our students and staff through the COVID-19 pandemic. Superintendent Godden provided the Board of Education with an update on the latest number of COVID-19 notifications for the district and key enhanced health and safety measures being implemented as a result of the February 4, 2021, provincial announcement.
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Local School Calendar for 2021-2022 - Notice of Intent
A recommendation was put forward that the Board of Education serve Notice of Intent that the 2021-2022 Local School Calendar will be presented for debate and vote at a regular meeting of the Board on March 9, 2021. The proposed calendar is similar to the calendar approved by the Board for 2020-21 and meets the prescribed minimum hours of instruction that a Board must offer for the 2021-22 school year. It includes a two-week winter vacation, a two-week Spring Break, and six non-instructional days. None of these days count as a day of instruction. Public and employee consultation will take place from February 17 to March 5, 2021.
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Operations
Amended Annual Budget Bylaw 2020-2021
Recommendations put forward THAT (1) the Board of Education approve having all three readings of the 2020/2021 Amended Annual Budget Bylaw in this one meeting; THAT (2) School District No. 34 (Abbotsford) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2020/2021 be given first reading; THAT (3) School District No. 34 (Abbotsford) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2020/2021 be given second reading; and THAT (4) School District No. 34 (Abbotsford) Amended Annual Budget Bylaw for fiscal year 2020/2021, specifying an expenditure of $240,232,764 be given third reading, reconsidered, and finally passed and adopted on this 16th day of February, 2021.
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Second Quarter Financial Report
Local Capital Transfer - I.T. Infrastructure
A recommendation was put forward that the Board of Education approves the transfer of $800,000 from Local Capital to the Operating Fund; and that the Board further commit $1,000,000 from Accumulated Surplus (IT Infrastructure Reserve) for the Network Switch Infrastructure project.
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Municipal Pension Plan
As agreed to with Teamsters Local Union No. 31, the Abbotsford School District is completing the application process to extend the district’s participation in the Municipal Pension Plan to include members of Teamsters Local Union No. 31. The application process includes a Board of Education resolution to extend the district’s participation in the plan. A Board of Education resolution is also required to modify the enrolment criteria for regular, part-time employees to align with employee eligibility for the Teamsters’ National Pension Plan. This modification has been confirmed with Teamsters Local Union No. 31.
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New School on Eagle Mountain - Park Use Agreement with the City of Abbotsford
School District staff have been working for several months with the City of Abbotsford on an agreement for use of Eagle Mountain Park as the playfield for the new elementary school, currently under construction. Although future community use of the school will be managed through the existing Joint Use Agreement, both parties desired further terms to be included in this Agreement beyond the use of the Park, mainly fencing and minor field improvements. The Park Use Agreement, as approved by the City at their January 25, 2021, Council Meeting, was presented for approval by the Board of Education.
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Eagle Mountain Boundary Review
The new elementary school currently under construction on Eagle Mountain is scheduled to open in September 2022. It is proposed that catchment options be communicated to area residents for feedback prior to the Board making a final decision later this school year. This will include presenting these options in a virtual meeting, creating a feedback section on the district website, and potentially meeting with the school PAC.
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Naming of the New School on Eagle Mountain
As per Board of Education policy, the ad-hoc facilities naming committee for the new elementary school on Eagle Mountain will consist of two trustees, the school Principal, the Communications Manager, and up to four community members. The committee will commence work in March 2021 and submit a report to the Board by June 4, 2021. The final report will include a maximum of three options, in order of preference, for consideration by the Board.
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