Six days after the Chilliwack Board of Education held a special meeting to elect chair and vice-chair, they are holding the meeting and the vote again.
On Dec. 7, a special regular meeting was held for the annual vote for board chair, vice-chair, and representatives to the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the B.C. School Trustees Association (BCSTA).
The meeting, however, was not livestreamed online due to a technical problem and neither the teachers’ union nor the chair of the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) (or The Progress) were made aware they could attend in person.
Four trustees attended the meeting – Jared Mumford, Willow Reichelt, David Swankey and Carin Bondar – at which Mumford was elected board chair and Reichelt vice-chair.
Trustees Heather Maahs, Darrell Furgason and Barry Neufeld did not attend.
The lack of online access to the meeting was questioned by several people, including this reporter, but the board decided the meeting was legal because, technically, the public could have attended.
READ MORE: OPINION: Chilliwack school board meeting deemed ‘public’ on the smallest of technicalities
Still, Mumford said they would hold the meeting again to ensure transparency and public access to the public meeting.
A new meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Monday (Dec. 13).
On the school district’s website there is a note connected to the meeting listing stating that it will be held in person at the school district office in the boardroom.
“The meeting will be livestreamed and recorded for the public, and will also be open to the public to attend in person,” the note said. “Due to health and safety protocols, limited seating will be available in the Boardroom and Lobby. A notice will be posted on the front entrance doorway when capacity has been reached.
“In the interest of health and safety, anyone attending the in person meeting is required to wear a mask at all times and follow health and safety protocols posted in the building.”
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