Highlights - Board Meeting - November 5, 2024
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.
Presentations
Dave Kandal Elementary
Principal Baljit Sekhon, Grade 1 teacher Corinne Steffen, ELL teacher Veena Arora, along with Dave Kandal students and parents, discussed the Parents as Partners program. They highlighted how inviting parents into the classroom strengthened the Parent-Child-Teacher connection, fostering collaboration to support students’ learning and development within a more connected educational community.
Rick Hansen Secondary
Vice-Principal Brent Schroeder, Teacher Coordinator Trish Schubert, grade 12 students, and Principal Jaimie Webster presented Rick Hansen Secondary's School of Business & Science Program. They discussed how the program created student opportunities and aligned with the district’s strategic plan, covering its structure, inquiry- and project-based learning philosophy, internship and post-secondary opportunities, and the School of Business merchandise shop.
Abbotsford District Retired Teachers Association (ADRTA) Heritage Committee
Gloria Adam, Linda Baynes, and Madeleine Gravel from the ADRTA Heritage Committee attended to share about the collection of engaging historical stories available on each Abbotsford School District school’s website.
Education
Communications Department: Strategic Plan Progress Report
Kristi Ferguson, Senior Manager of Communications and Community Relations, presented an overview of the department’s 2023-24 achievements related to these priorities and outlined current and future initiatives supporting the strategic plan.
Human Resources Department: Strategic Plan Progress Report
Patricia La Framboise-Lo, Associate Superintendent of Human Resources, provided a progress report to the Board on achievements related to Strategic Goals 4.1, 4.3, and 4.4 for the 2023-24 school year.
Motion
A recommendation was put forward THAT the Board of Education approve asking staff to investigate and report to the Board on the benefits and drawbacks of the K-9 proficiency scale with respect to student achievement and that staff bring suggestions on how the proficiency scale could be supplemented to enhance parent understanding and student achievement.
Operations
Student Transportation Services Review
The Board discussed conducting a transportation review during the 2024-25 school year, recommending that hiring a Manager of Transportation be completed first. A new Manager is expected to be in place by January 2025.
Watch Segment
Trustee Indemnity Report
Secretary-Treasurer Velestuk provided information about the Trustee Indemnity Report to the board.
School Budget Calendar 2025-2026
A recommendation was put forward THAT the Board of Education approve the 2025-2026 Budget Calendar as presented.
Update on Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Implementation
Secretary-Treasurer Velestuk provided a report to the Board of Education for information.
Revised Board Policies
Secretary-Treasurer Velestuk provided a report to the Board of Education for information.
Reports by Representatives on External Organizations
BCSTA Survey Item
The Board Chair provided a verbal report at the meeting.
Trustee Announcements