Open Board Meeting
May 27, 2026 · 05:30 pm
Summary
- Sarah McLachlan School of Music recognition: Superintendent highlighted the school district's longstanding partnership with the Sarah McLachlan School of Music, which provides free music education to over 1,000 VSB students annually across three program streams: Artists in Residence in elementary schools, programming for alternative secondary students, and after-school programming open to all VSB students.
- Red Dress Day and Indigenous education: Board acknowledged May 5 National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People; student artwork was displayed at the Education Centre and schools held memorial walks, art workshops, and symbolic displays.
- Digital devices policy deferred: The Education Plan Committee's recommendations on a personal digital device policy for schools were deferred after committee consultations surfaced a wide range of views from students and stakeholders; staff will bring further refinements forward, likely in spring 2027 after new strategies are piloted during the coming school year.
- School fee schedules 2026–2027 approved: Annual fee schedules for the coming school year were approved; trustees noted all schedules include a financial hardship clause and that school staff work sensitively with families who have difficulty paying.
- Trustee remuneration policy approved: A new standalone Policy 6 on trustee remuneration was approved after debate; the policy sets a framework for formal remuneration reviews in the final year of each board term, with any changes applying only to the subsequent board. The policy also establishes higher differentials for the chair (30% above base) and vice chair (15% above base). One trustee voted against, arguing the increases were inappropriate given recent budget cuts to classroom supports and that the decision should be left to the incoming board.
- Student trustee policy approved with amendment: Policy 18 governing the student trustee role was approved with a minor correction to clarify that the student trustee is entitled to one out-of-district (not in-district) conference opportunity per school year.
- Student trustee report: Student Trustee Freddie Zhang reported on VDSC activities including a district-wide spirit day, mental health initiatives, an arts gala, a student leadership grant showcase, and attendance at the Ontario Student Trustees Association AGM; Zhang also announced re-election for a second term.
- Question period: Board addressed five public questions covering EA leave provisions, inaccurate social media claims about cuts to music and PE, supports for students experiencing bullying and racism, digital device policy student engagement, and the chair's debate procedure.
Minutes approved
- Adopt April 29 and April 30 Minutes
Motions
Defer Digital Devices Policy
Carried Details
- The Education Plan Committee brought forward recommendations on a personal digital device policy for schools.
- Deferred to allow staff to make additional refinements and gather further stakeholder and student input before the board makes a decision.
- Trustees noted the committee process surfaced significantly varied perspectives from students, parents, and school communities.
- Existing codes of conduct remain in place for the coming school year; staff will implement new strategies and report back, likely in spring 2027.
- No further Education Plan Committee meetings are scheduled for this school year; the item is expected to return in the next school year.
Approve School Fee Schedules 2026-2027
Carried Details
- Annual approval of school fee schedules covering the 2026–2027 school year.
- All fee schedules include a financial hardship clause; trustees noted school staff handle fee conversations with families sensitively and without stigmatization.
- Trustees acknowledged a preference for a system without school fees but recognized fees are the current means of providing additional resources to students.
Approve Policy 6 Trustee Remuneration
Carried Details
- Proposed a new standalone Policy 6 to formalize how trustee remuneration is reviewed and updated, replacing provisions previously embedded in Policy 7.
- The policy requires a formal remuneration review during the final year of each board term, with any resulting changes applying only to the subsequent board, not the board conducting the review.
- The policy sets the chair's remuneration at 30% above the base trustee rate and the vice chair's at 15% above base, increased from the current approximate differentials of 8% and 6%.
- Supporters argued the differentials reflect the substantially greater time commitment of the chair and vice chair roles, and that competitive remuneration helps attract candidates from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
- One trustee opposed, arguing the increases were inappropriate given recent budget decisions that cut district teacher-librarians, youth and family workers, and other classroom supports; that higher pay does not attract better candidates; and that the new board should set its own remuneration.
- Secretary-Treasurer confirmed the policy does not change current trustees' pay; the automatic annual CPI increment to base pay continues regardless, and any new differential rates would only apply to trustees elected in October 2026.
- A procedural motion to postpone consideration until December 2026 was defeated before the main motion proceeded.
Approve Policy 18 Student Trustee
Carried Details
- Approved a revised Policy 18 governing the student trustee role.
- An error in section 6.3 was identified during discussion: the draft referred to "one district conference opportunity" but should read "one out-of-district conference opportunity" to align with section 6.2 and past practice.
- An amendment to insert "out of district" into section 6.3 was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously before the amended policy was adopted.
Agenda documents (1)
Vote matrix
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria Jung🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Janet Fraser🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lois Chan-Pedley🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Alfred Chien🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Preeti Faridkot🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Suzie Mah🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Jennifer Reddy🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Christopher JK Richardson🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Josh Zhang🥜 | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |