Synopsis of April 15, 2025, Regular Board Meeting

The April 15, 2025, Regular Board meeting was held at the District Education Support Centre and via Microsoft Town Hall. The agenda included updates on board policies, a delegation request, the  Superintendent’s report, environmental stewardship initiatives, a field trip approval, operating grant updates, and student support leadership restructuring. Below is a detailed summary of the meeting.

Board Policy Updates
Policy 136 Trustee Remuneration and Expenses and Policy 380 Allergies and Anaphylaxis received final approval and are available on the District website.

Delegation
Clint Hamilton, a former graduate of Pleasant Valley Secondary School (PVSS), has requested that the gymnasium floor at PVSS be named in honour of retired teacher and coach, Ross Shannon. Superintendent Donna Kriger explained that a new administrative procedure (AP) for naming of facilities, rooms, or property is currently being developed. Therefore, the request will be considered once the AP is finalized.

Superintendent’s Report
Superintendent Kriger highlighted the work connected to the Strategic Priorities of Intellectual Development, Career Development, Organizational Development, Human and Social Development, and Community Partnership Development.

Senior Leadership recently met with the members of the planning department from the City of Salmon Arm to discuss areas of growth within the city, economic development, recreational opportunities, climate change, public and active transportation, protecting natural areas and agricultural lands, and supporting local business. Many of the conversations connect to the commitments within the District Strategic Plan .

On May 5, 2025, all District staff will have the opportunity to participate in Indigenous Day of Learning. The learning intentions for the day include engaging in land-based or place-based learning connected to Indigenous education and opportunities for relationship building with local Secwepemc communities.

Students from the South Canoe Outdoor Learning School will attend J.L. Jackson (JLJ) for secondary school. Starting in 2026, South Canoe families who live within the Salmon Arm Secondary (SAS) catchment area and who are transitioning to secondary school in the fall, will have the option to attend either JLJ or SAS. This decision will need to be made by March 31, 2026.

Superintendent Kriger acknowledged Jenny Daughtry for coordinating the Under the Sea Glow Gallery at Highland Park Elementary School, noting that the artwork and learning experiences were phenomenal. To read the details that were posted on the District website, click here.

The Kindergarten class at Carlin Elementary Middle School has been part of an early learning project where a school team of educators are implementing an early learning phonics program developed by the University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI). These young students are already reading fluently, showcasing the effectiveness of the program. Teacher Margaret Paterson, Vice Principal Morgan McDonald, and other teachers across the District are actively supporting literacy and numeracy instruction, aligning with the District’s Strategic Plan. This initiative highlights the importance of systematic, research-based approaches to early literacy, ensuring a bright future for these students. To learn more, read UFLI in Action at Carlin.

During Earth Week, April 21 to 25, 2025, over 2,000 seedlings will be planted by students as an act of reconciliation, giving back to the land. Reflecting on the environmental disasters, particularly wildfires, that have impacted the area, Superintendent Kriger emphasized the District’s responsibility to engage in reforestation efforts. She thanked the nurseries and forestry companies for their contributions, as well as the schools participating in this active reconciliation effort.

Twelve Grade 10-12 students from J.L. Jackson, Salmon Arm Secondary, and A.L. Fortune participated in a Girls Exploring Careers in Aviation program. The girls were exposed to pilots, flight attendants, medical pilots, aircraft maintenance engineers, drone pilots, and aircraft maintenance mechanics. Read Girls Exploring Careers in Aviation for further details.

Superintendent Kriger expressed deepest condolences to the family of Erin Bell. Erin was a beloved student at Hillcrest Elementary and Salmon Arm Secondary. She brought joy to her peers, the staff who worked and learned alongside her, and to all who had the privilege to have her cross their path.

The Superintendent Report PowerPoint is accessible, here .

Environmental Stewardship Action Plan
Teacher Ceren Caner and Salmon Arm Secondary Student Evje Knutson presented an overview of the draft Environmental Stewardship Action Plan (ESAP). This plan is a significant initiative aimed at fostering environmental awareness and sustainability within the District.

The Environmental Advisory Working Group, established in 2021, includes District staff, teachers, and students. This group has been instrumental in developing the ESAP, which integrates the Strategic Plan and Board Policy 124 Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability. The District’s goal is to prepare students to be part of a sustainable world, ensuring a healthy and safe environment for future generations.

The ESAP outlines five key pathways to create sustainable change: climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainability, responsibility to the land, learning, and culture and leadership. Each pathway includes specific strategies and projects, some of which have been previously developed by the working group, while others are new initiatives currently in progress.

The Enhancing Student Learning Report is completed annually and will be used as a platform to determine the areas of success, areas for improvement, and possibly even areas that have been neglected. This report will inform District staff and the Environmental Advisory Working Group on the progress of the various initiatives and areas that may need attention. Both this action plan and the annual progress from this group will be posted on the District website each fall. The work will be presented to the Board in June of 2025 and annually as a part of the annual monitoring of the Enhancing Student Learning report.

To celebrate World Earth Day, on April 22, 2025, 175 students from across the District will participate in the first K-12 Environmental Expo at Piccadilly Mall from 10 am to 2 pm. The expo will feature performances by singer Remy Rodden and Storyteller Kenthen Thomas. Special acknowledgments go to Wayne Spencer and Kim Fulton for their efforts in organizing this event.

June Regular Board Meeting Date
The Board is considering rescheduling the June Board meeting. This item will be reviewed at the Regular Board meeting in May.

Eagle River Secondary School Field Trip Request
The Board approved the request for the Eagle River Secondary School graduating class to participate in activities at Revelstoke, Golden, Banff, and Canmore from June 6 to 8, 2025. The students will visit the Wolf Sanctuary, the Cave and Basin Historic Site, go bowling, enjoy the hot springs, and go hiking. The trip is funded through fundraising efforts.

Finance and Facilities / Audit Committee
Trustee Krebs reported that the Committee reviewed the Operating Fund Revenue and Expenditures, Operating Grants, Ministry response to the 2025/26 Capital Plan and school bus purchasing, 2024/25 Testing Lead Content in Drinking Water report, and the Environmental Advisory Work Group minutes.

2025-2026 Operating Grant Update and Analysis
Each year in mid-March the Ministry of Education and Child Care prepares a preliminary operating grant announcement and funding tables based on enrolment projections submitted on February 15th. Acting Secretary-Treasurer Jeremy Hunt presented an analysis of the operating grant which reflects changes in the per pupil rates and student enrolment. The District requires this information to prepare the preliminary Annual Budget which must be submitted annually by June 30th.

The Ministry of Education and Child Care has announced preliminary operating grants for the 2025/26 school year, projecting an increase of $123.7 million to over $7.2 billion. This growth is due to $76.5 million in labour settlement funding and estimated enrolment growth of $47.2 million. Per student funding rates have increased by an average of 1.2%, with specific supplements also seeing slight increases. Additionally, special grants for various programs remain unchanged, supporting school district operations.

The District anticipates a decrease in student FTE in 2025-2026 due to a large graduating cohort and a smaller incoming cohort of Kindergarten students.

To read the briefing note and accompanying documentation, click here.

Labour Relations
Board Chair Corryn Grayston reported that the Committee met on April 15, 2025, and discussed two labour items.

Partner Group Liaison
Board Chair Grayston reported that the Committee met on March 13, 2025. They discussed three items brought forward by DPAC and one item by the District. The next meeting is scheduled for May 15, 2025.

Committee of the Whole
Board Chair Grayston reported that the next meeting is scheduled for May 6, 2025.

Student Support Leadership
Since June 2024, the District has been operating without a Director of Student Support, with oversight managed by the Superintendent and the District Principal of Student Support. As the District enters a new budget cycle, it is essential to have senior leadership overseeing the $16 million allocated for staffing, services, and supplies to support students with diverse abilities.

To ensure effective management and succession planning, Superintendent Kriger proposed merging the Indigenous Education and Student Support departments. This restructuring will replace the Director of Indigenous Education and the Director of Student Supports with an Assistant Superintendent of Indigenous Education and Student Supports, filled by Chelsea Prince. This strategic move will generate cost savings and ensure a smooth transition, maintaining stability and continuity of services. The proposal was developed in consultation with the Board and the Quelmucw Education Council, ensuring that both governance structures were involved in the decision-making process.

BCSTA Update
Trustee Amanda Krebs reported that Vice Chair Lachmuth, Trustee VanBuskirk, along with herself, will be attending the BCSTA AGM in Vancouver on April 24 to 26, 2025.

Quelmucw Education Council
Vice Chair Tennile Lachmuth reported that during their last meeting, the budget was discussed and they previewed the Indigenous Day of Learning events.

Correspondence Regarding Outcomes for Indigenous Students
Each year, the Ministry of Education and Child Care sends correspondence to Board Chairs, Superintendents, and Indigenous Education Leads to highlight the educational outcomes of Indigenous students compared to their non-Indigenous peers. This correspondence, based on the annual “How Are We Doing?” report, details both the progress made and ongoing challenges districts face in advancing equity for Indigenous learners. The correspondence received this year is less favorable than that of the previous year, reinforcing the importance of the 2023–2028 District Strategic Plan, which prioritizes support and improved outcomes for Indigenous learners as members of priority populations identified by the Ministry.

Trustee Reports
Trustee Marianne VanBuskirk reported that she attended the Active Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, where they discussed the multi-use path located along 11th Ave NE and 16th Street NE. The opening of the path is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 9 am.