Letter dated May 27, 2024 from N. Duncan, Chair, Board of Education, School District No. 61, Re: Crossing Guard Service Funding

Board of Education

Chair: Nicole Duncan Vice-Chair: Karin Kwan Trustees: Natalie Baillaut, Angela Carmichael, Mavis David, Derek Gagnon, Emily Mahbobi, Diane McNally, Rob Paynter

School District No. 61 (Greater Victoria) 556 Boleskine Road, Victoria, BC V8Z 1E8 Phone (250) 475-4106 Fax (250) 475-4112

May 27, 2024

The Town of View Royal 45 View Royal Avenue Victoria, BC V9B 1A6

BY E-MAIL: mayorandcouncil@viewroyal.ca

ATTENTION: Mayor and Council

Dear Mayor Tobias and Council:

RE: Crossing Guard Service Funding

We understand that the Town of View Royal asked our School District to consider whether we would be interested in entering into a cost-sharing agreement related to crossing guard services in the Township of View Royal.

As you are likely aware, the Greater Victoria Crossing Guard Association provided crossing guard services with municipal funding support for many years. However, with the Greater Victoria Crossing Guard Association no longer operating, our School District has successfully taken on the role of administering crossing guard service provision, utilizing school district Educational Assistants (EA), supported by municipal funding. We are not interested in a cost-sharing agreement.

Since the inception of crossing guard services over 20 years ago, municipalities have continued to commit the funding required to provide these important services. While the responsibility for ensuring road safety rests with municipalities not the school district, we welcome our continued partnership for the benefit of student safety.

In addition, we suggest that we work together to finalize the draft memorandum of understanding, which will support stable funding and predictable service provision moving forward from year to year.

Sincerely,

Nicole Duncan Chair, Board of Education

cc:

• Board of Education, School District No. 61
• Deb Whitten, Superintendent, School District No. 61
• Katrina Stride, Secretary-Treasurer, School District No. 61
• Jane Massy, President, CUPE 947, School District No. 61
• Darren Reed, President, CUPE 382, School District No. 61
• Ilda Turcotte, President, Greater Victoria Teachers’ Association
• Tracy Humphreys, President, Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, School District No. 61
• Brenna O’Connor, President, Victoria Principals and Vice-Principals Association, School District No. 61