Highlights - Board Meeting - December 10, 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
Mathxwí Elementary - Learning Halq'eméylem
Acting Principal Nicolas Cochrane, Ms. Strafford, and students highlighted how the school community is embracing their commitment to Truth and Reconciliation in their morning announcements. Trustees and staff also had the the opportunity to actively engage in this meaningful presentation.
Terry Fox Elementary - Roots of Empathy
Principal Kari Petzold delivered a presentation spotlighting the Roots of Empathy program currently running in one of their Kindergarten classes. The presentation included a video featuring the class teacher and Youth Care Worker, who share their experiences with the program, highlighting both its challenges and its benefits
Special Announcement
2025 Community Matters Award
The Abbotsford School District has a long history of community involvement in our schools, where many individuals and organizations contribute countless hours of volunteer service to enable our students to succeed. The Community Matters Award is presented every June by the Abbotsford Board of Education to organizations or individuals who have exceeded their community service mandate and have made significant, deliberate contributions to Abbotsford School District students.
Nominations for the 2025 Community Matters Award are now open. Nomination details and timelines are available at www.abbyschools.ca.
Education
Curriculum Department: Strategic Plan Progress Report
Tracy Krys, Director of Instruction, Curriculum updated the Board on progress in specific areas of the District’s Strategic Plan. The Curriculum Department continues to focus its strategy on the areas of Student Success and Engaging Opportunities. Key successes included increased childcare spaces, the creation of a Literacy Framework, the release of learning progressions for K-5, and high engagement in mentorship programs.
Learning Support Services Department: Strategic Plan Progress Report
Director of Instruction – Learning Support Services, Michelle Gehring, provided an update to the Board on progress made in areas of the District’s Strategic Plan related to strategic goals for ‘Excellence in Teaching,’ with a particular focus on inclusive classrooms. Key achievements and projects from the 2023-24 school year that support the department’s strategies was highlighted, as well as a look at the ongoing work in 2024-25.
Motion
A recommendation was put forward that the Board of Education approve BAA Braille 10, 11, and 12 as Board Authority Authorized Courses; and further that the Board of Education approve BAA Nutrition and Cooking 11 as a Board Authority Authorized Course.
Review of Board of Education Student Awards
Staff requests that the Board review the currently offered awards via the Abbotsford Community Foundation and advise whether they would prefer to continue offering them.
Operations
Budget Guiding Principles
Secretary-Treasurer/CFO, Ray Velestuk, recommended that the budget guiding principles for the 2024-25 school year remain as the guiding principle for the 2025-2026 Budget.
Public Board Meeting Start Times
A recommendation was put forward that the Board of Education change the start times of the Public Board Meetings in 2025 to begin at 6:00 pm.