Two years after slimming down the number of public board meetings, Chilliwack trustees agreed to add two more meetings to the 2012-13 school year.
It was a decision made to provide more community engagement and to ensure all necessary business is being completed before year end.
One additional meeting will be added in September and another in June, which are two of the “busier” months said superintendent Michael Audet.
With the two added meetings, the only month with a single meeting next year will be November. In comparison to this year, there were five months with single meetings.
The only trustee in opposition to the move was Doug McKay, who didn’t believe the current workflow justified additional meetings.
However, his colleagues disagreed.
Trustee Heather Maahs pointed out there were several meetings this year that ended past 10 p.m.
“I am not in favour of staying here until 11 at night, which we have on occasion,” said Maahs.
And by having two meetings a month, “it will help us stay connected with the community.”
Trustee Barry Neufeld especially agreed with the additional meeting in September to help the new superintendent, Evelyn Novak, who was hired last week, get into the swing of things.
Trustee Walt Krahn said it would be easier to cancel a scheduled meeting if the workflow wasn’t there then to add a meeting on short notice.
“If our senior administration needs decisions made, I think it’s important we arrive on scene and assist them in that,” said Krahn.
For a full list of meeting dates, go to the school district website at www.sd33.bc.ca, under the board of education link.
