BCSTA Brings Voice of School Trustees to Legislature During Advocacy Days

Provincial advocacy event connects education priorities province-wide with government decision-makers

VANCOUVER, B.C. – November 5, 2025 – The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) Board of Directors and staff met with key government ministers and parliamentary secretaries October 28^th and 29^th at the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia for the association’s Advocacy Day, a cornerstone event dedicated to championing public education across the province.

Representing public school boards and over 400 school trustees from every corner of the province, the BCSTA brought forward critical issues and member-based priorities to ensure the voices of boards and school trustees are heard in provincial policy and funding decisions.

“Our members serve as the democratically elected voice of their local communities,” said Tracy Loffler, President of the British Columbia School Trustees Association. “Advocacy Day provides a valuable opportunity for BCSTA to bring those voices directly to government decision-makers by discussing member-based motions that our members voted on during our annual general meetings.”

The BCSTA delegation held productive discussions with the below members of government.

Premier David Eby and Minister of Education and Childcare Lisa Beare:

• Increase of Non-Targeted Funding – Emphasized the importance of increased and sustainable funding for K–12 public education to enable school boards to respond to their communities’ unique needs while maintaining BC’s standard of excellence. (BCSTA AGM 2025 Motion 30: Increased Funding for Public Education, Sponsor – Surrey School District)
  
• Mid-Year Enrollment Growth Funding – Explored sustainable funding mechanisms to support school districts experiencing mid-year enrollment increases. (BCSTA AGM 2025 Motion 35: Fully Funding Year End FTE Staffing Costs, Sponsor – Burnaby School District)
  
• Supporting the Expansion of Child Care in Schools – Addressed the growing need for increased Education Assistants (EAs) and Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) capacity to meet classroom demands and the continued expansion of early learning services on school grounds, including addressing the education, recruitment, and retention barriers for Early Childhood Educators and Education Assistants who are essential to this expansion. (AGM 2025 Motion 27: EAs in Every Primary Classroom, Sponsors: Southeast Kootenay School District, Kootenay Boundary Branch; AGM 2024 Motion 15: Eliminate Barriers of Employment for ECEs and EAs, Sponsor: Vancouver School District)

 

Minister of Infrastructure Bowinn Ma:

• Student Population Growth – Addressed student population growth and requested that funding for the major capital program for school additions, new schools and site acquisitions be set at a level matching projected student population growth and allows for the replacement of temporary portables which have reached the end of their useful life.(BCSTA AGM 2024 Motion 25: Capital Funding Acknowledging Projected Enrollment Growth, Sponsor – Langley School District; BCSTA AGM 2023 – Motion 32 Review of School Area Standards; BCSTA AGM 2025)

• Additional Funding for Portables – Requested the Ministry of Education and Child Care to work with the Ministry of Infrastructure to protect and prioritize school district operating budgets to ensure funds are directed primarily towards student learning by establishing a separate and distinct funding envelope specifically designated for portables and their related infrastructure costs (including site preparation, moving, furnishing, removal, and decommissioning). (Motion 41 Funding for Portables, Sponsor – New Westminster School District; BCSTA AGM 2024 Motion 30 Maintenance Funding for Aging Portables, Sponsor: Kamloops/Thompson School District)

Minister of Children and Family Development Jodie Wickens:

• Substance Education Response to Opioid Crisis – Discussed comprehensive curriculum review incorporating harm reduction, prevention, and mental health education across learning areas. The opioid crisis, declared a public health emergency in April 2016, continues affecting BC youth. (BCSTA AGM 2025 Motion 25, Sponsor: Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District, and Fraser Valley Branch)
• Mental Health Support in Schools – Discussed sustained funding for school counsellors and integrated supports under the Pathway to Hope plan. (BCSTA AGM 2021 Motion 16, Sponsor: Sunshine Coast School District)

Parliamentary Secretary Dana Lajeunesse:

• Funding Support for Inclusive Classrooms and Accessibility – Discussed funding and support for inclusive classrooms in Kindergarten to Grade 3 using a social model rather than a medical model approach. (BCSTA AGM 2025 Motion 36, sponsor: Southeast Kootenay school district and Kootenay Boundary Branch)
• Comprehensive Accessibility Funding  – New funding to address non-physical and attitudinal barriers identified in district accessibility plans under the Accessibility British Columbia Act. (BCSTA AGM 2024 Motion 20, Sponsor: North Vancouver School District)
• Inclusive Physical Environments – Funding to make existing playgrounds accessible for children using mobility aids. (BCSTA AGM 2024 Motion 31, Sponsor: Kamloops/Thompson School District)

Rural Health Parliamentary Secretary Debra Toporowski and Mental Health and Addictions Parliamentary Secretary Amna Shah:

• Comprehensive Substance Education Curriculum –Fully funded review and revision of substance education curriculum incorporating harm reduction, prevention, and mental health integration across learning areas. (BCSTA AGM 2025 Motion 25, Sponsor: Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows School District and Fraser Valley Branch)
• Provincial Guidance for School-Based Response – Inter-ministerial taskforce creating provincial guidance for substance education and opioid overdose response, including specialists from mental health, addiction, and education sectors with lived experience representation. (BCSTA AGM 2023 Motion 18, Sponsor: Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadow School District)
• Comprehensive School Health Framework – BCSTA Comprehensive School Health Working Group Recommendations – Cohesive provincial guidelines on substance use, evidence-based policies, age-appropriate resource toolkits, and standardized approaches with local flexibility.

Parliamentary Secretary of Gender Equity Jennifer Blatherwick:

• Gender equality in BC schools – Developing, promoting, implementing and funding a K-12 Action Plan to address misogyny and sexism. (BCSTA AGM 2025 Motion 21 Action to Address Misogyny and Sexism, Sponsor: Comox Valley school district)

Minister of State for Local Governments and Rural Communities Brittny Anderson:

• Digital Equity and Connectivity – Updates on internet connectivity expansion addressing gaps that create educational deficits for rural students and families. (BCSTA AGM 2024 Motion 32, sponsor: Thompson Okanagan Branch)
• Human Resources Capacity in Rural Districts – Addressing inadequate HR capacity and implementing the ECC K-12 Workforce Plan. (BCSTA AGM 2024 Motion 16 and Motion 28, sponsor:  Northern Interior Branch and Peace River North School District)

The BCSTA also met with the Speaker of the House, Honourable Raj Chouhan, to discuss good governance, the important work of the association, and trustee professional development.

The association is grateful for the collaborative relationships it shares with the provincial government and extends a sincere thank you to all members for their openness, time, and willingness to sit down and discuss the future of public education in BC. The BCSTA looks forward to continued collaboration ahead as we work together to support students, families, and education communities throughout the province.        

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Media Contact:

Monique Atwal, Manager of Advocacy and Public Relations

matwal@bcsta.org

(604) 842-1167