BCASBO Briefing – Summer 2026
BCASBO Briefing - Summer 2026
Member Updates, Sector Issues & Resources
Welcome to the Summer 2026 edition of the BCASBO Briefing. This update brings together messages from the President and Executive Director, current Association priorities, sector updates, professional learning opportunities, and resources intended to support BCASBO members in their work across B.C. school districts.
President's Message
As we begin the 2026/27 Executive year, one of the key areas of focus for BCASBO will be continuing to strengthen the value we provide to members across the province.
At the recent Executive Committee meetings, members spoke about the importance of linking the Association’s Strategic Plan to practical action. This includes improving how we share information, supporting new and existing members, strengthening professional learning, and ensuring BCASBO continues to be a trusted voice on school district business issues.
The Executive Committee also discussed opportunities to learn from other sector organizations, including the Education Facility Managers Association, particularly in the areas of conference planning, vendor engagement, sponsorship, networking, and professional development. These conversations will help inform how BCASBO continues to build strong events and member services that are both sustainable and valuable.
Another important priority is continuing to build and strengthen relationships with Ministry and sector partners, including the Ministry of Education and Child Care, Ministry of Infrastructure, BCSTA, BCPSEA, Focused Education Resources, and others. BCASBO members bring significant operational, financial, human resources, facilities, technology, and governance expertise, and we want to ensure that expertise is available to inform sector conversations early and meaningfully.
Thank you to the Executive Committee, Zone Directors, Directors at Large, committee representatives, and members who continue to contribute their time, experience, and ideas. Your involvement helps BCASBO remain connected to the real issues facing school districts and focused on the supports members need most.
Executive Director's Report
Over the past couple of months, much of the Association’s work has focused on preparing for, attending, and following up from the 2026 AGM and Conference, as well as supporting the Executive Committee in transition into the next school year.
I was pleased to welcome Mallory Gosse, our Member Services Coordinator, to the Association on her first day of work on May 20, 2026. Mallory already has made significant improvements in the way we do business, and she will be a tremendous support for me and for our members.
Current areas of work for me include continued Ministry and sector partner engagement, Asset Retirement Obligations, taking part in the Board Policy Review Advisory Committee, exploring revenue generation opportunities with Fair Chance Learning, planning for Cohort 9 of the Leadership Series, connecting with the Association Secretary Treasurer on financial matters, transitioning responsibilities to Mallory, and continued follow-up on issues raised by members.
At the June 18 and 19 Executive Committee meeting, we spent considerable time reviewing the 2023–2028 Strategic Plan and identifying practical ways to move the plan forward. Key areas of focus include strengthening Ministry and partner relationships, improving committee reporting, supporting zone communication, enhancing the website and member experience, reviewing mentorship and new member orientation materials, and developing a more intentional approach to templates and resources.
A recurring theme throughout the discussion was member value. BCASBO is exploring ways to better organize and share practical tools, professional learning opportunities, committee updates, sector information, and resources that members can use in their day-to-day work.
This first online edition of the BCASBO Briefing will support that direction. By bringing Association updates, Ministry and sector information, professional learning opportunities, and member resources together in one place, the BCASBO Briefing will become a regular tool to help members stay informed, connected, and supported.
BCASBO News
68th AGM & Conference
BCASBO held its 68th Annual General Meeting on May 20, 2026, during the AGM & Conference at the Penticton Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre. The conference brought together members, speakers, sponsors, guests, and education partners for professional learning, networking, and Association business.
The AGM included recognition of the 2025/26 Executive Committee, greetings from ASBO International President, Lynn Knight, approval of reports and financial items, and confirmation of the incoming 2026/27 Executive Committee.
Conference Speaker Follow-Up: Charity Donation
Following the 2026 AGM & Conference, keynote speaker Darci Lang’s team made a $50 donation to BC Children’s Hospital as a thank-you connected to BCASBO.
BCASBO appreciates this thoughtful gesture and the opportunity to support an organization that provides important care for children and families across British Columbia.
2026/27 Executive Committee
The Association’s Annual General Meeting held on May 20, 2026 was highlighted with the election of the 2026/27 Executive Committee, with Jason Reid beginning his term as President. Please view the BCASBO Executive page on the website to see the respective roles of the Executive Committee members.
The new Executive Committee met in Victoria on June 18 and 19 to transition the work of the 2025–2026 Executive Committee to the new Executive. Each Committee member was asked during introductions to highlight what they would like to achieve in the year ahead. Members identified priorities including Strategic Plan implementation, improving member value, supporting new members, providing additional resources and professional learning across diverse roles, and building stronger relationships with the Ministry and sector partners.
Member Value and Strategic Plan Priorities
A key theme from both the AGM and June Executive Committee meetings was the importance of continuing to demonstrate and strengthen member value.
Following recent changes to the membership fee structure, the Executive Committee discussed practical ways to support members through improved resources, professional learning, zone communication, committee reporting, mentorship, new member orientation, and access to templates and tools.
Leadership Series and Professional Learning
BCASBO continues to support leadership development across the sector. Planning is underway for Cohort 9 of the Association’s Leadership Series.
The Executive Committee has also supported exploring additional professional development opportunities, including practical legal webinars for members.
Ministry & Sector Updates
BCASBO continues to engage with Ministry and sector partners on issues affecting school district operations, finance, capital planning, technology, human resources, and governance across the province.
Strengthening Ministry Engagement
The Committee also discussed opportunities to strengthen relationships with the Ministry of Education and Child Care, the Ministry of Infrastructure, BCSTA, BCPSEA, Focused Education Resources, and other sector partners. A key area of focus will be ensuring BCASBO can provide practical advice, sector context, and member expertise where decisions affect district operations.
Financial Management Updates
At the June Executive Committee meeting, Ministry staff provided updates and responded to questions related to labour settlement funding, CUPE bargaining and accounting treatment, PS 1202 financial statement presentation guideline, GRE reporting, GST guidance for childcare facilities, Asset Retirement Obligations, and other financial management matters.
With respect to district concerns about deficits caused by accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations, BCASBO has received a response to President Reid’s June 10, 2026 letter. The Ministry has advised that it is reviewing the issue, working with the Office of the Comptroller General on potential solutions, and expects to seek approval on recommendations in early fall.
Members can view the related correspondence below:
President Reid’s June 10, 2026 letter regarding Asset Retirement Obligations
Ministry response regarding Asset Retirement Obligations
Members should watch for further communication as these items develop.
Child Care on School Grounds
Ministry staff also provided an update on the next phase of the Child Care on School Grounds initiative, referred to as “Child Care 2.0.” The discussion included access, funding programs, minor capital funding, operational start-up funding, and future guidance for transforming school facilities into equitable childcare spaces.
The Executive Committee members also discussed practical implementation challenges, including the feasibility of sharing school space, classroom sharing, and the need for clearer guidance for districts.
Focused Education Cybersecurity Update
Focused Education Resources provided an update on cybersecurity supports for school districts, including active directory reviews, the ARC project, district dashboards, risk tracking, webinars, user guides, and access to threat intelligence information through the Canadian Cyber Threat Exchange.
Districts are encouraged to watch for further information from Focused Education Resources and consider available supports where applicable.
Unfunded Inflationary Pressures: Next Steps
The Executive Committee continued discussion on unfunded inflationary pressures and the need to better understand how districts are balancing budgets, what areas have been reduced, and what services or supports districts are no longer able to provide.
A sub-committee of the Executive Committee has been formed to develop a sector-wide survey of budget reduction and revenue generation strategies. The goal is to build a practical resource that can be shared with districts and help members better understand approaches being used across the sector.
Budget 2027 Written Submission
BCASBO submitted a written response to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services as part of the Provincial Government’s Budget 2027 consultation process.
The submission had the following recommendation to Government:
That operating funding to school districts fully reflect annual inflationary costs so that existing K–12 programs can be sustained in future years.
The submission also referenced the information report Responsiveness of Provincial Funding to Cost Pressures in BC School Districts and highlighted the negative impact of unfunded cost pressures on school district budgets.
Professional Learning & Events
Ministry Lunch & Learn Webinar Series
BCASBO is continuing to work with the Ministry of Education and Child Care on a new Lunch & Learn Webinar series for the next school year focused on practical topics for school business officials. Topics presented in the 2025–2026 series included CEF reporting, SOFI, funding formulas, budget monitoring, financial health processes, audit-related topics, and compliance audit outcomes. Members should contact the Executive with specific topics they would like to see presented.
Further details, including dates and registration information, will be shared with members once confirmed.
Leadership Series Cohort 9
At the June Executive Committee meeting, the committee approved moving forward with a funding proposal to the Ministry of Education and Child Care to support Cohort 9 of the Association’s Leadership Series Program. As with Cohort 8, the emphasis will be the Ministry’s Management Foundation Standards. Planning will continue in consultation with Ministry partners, facilitators, table coaches, and past contributors to ensure the program continues to support leadership development across school district business roles.
Legal Professional Development Lunch & Learn Series
BCASBO is pleased to introduce a new Legal Professional Development Lunch & Learn series for members beginning this fall.
The first session will focus on Liability and Risk Management for School District Business Officials. This introductory session will provide members with a general overview of legal considerations related to liability, risk, and school district operations.
The Executive Committee has supported this initiative, and Director at Large Mark Walsh is working with the Executive Director to coordinate sessions with interested legal professionals.
First Session Details
Topic: Liability and Risk Management for School District Business Officials
Tentative Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Format: Virtual via Teams
Registration Deadline: Friday, September 18, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.
Members interested in attending the first session can register using the link below. Additional details, including the presenter and Teams meeting link, will be shared with registered participants once finalized.
Fall Conference Planning
Planning is beginning for the 2026 Fall Conference, which is being held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver on November 24 and 25, 2026.
The Executive Committee discussed opportunities to strengthen member value, improve vendor engagement, support networking, and continue offering professional learning that reflects the diverse needs of BCASBO’s membership. Ideas discussed included vendor presentations, roundtable-style opportunities, extended networking time, and ways to better understand barriers for members who are unable to attend.
BCASBO will share more information with members as conference planning progresses.
Additional Professional Learning Areas
BCASBO will continue exploring professional development opportunities connected to ethics requirements, anti-money laundering professional development, cybersecurity, risk management, artificial intelligence, human resources, facilities, finance, and other emerging areas identified by members.
Members are encouraged to share professional learning ideas through their Zone Directors or directly with BCASBO.
Member Resources: Coming Soon
New Member & Role-Based Supports
BCASBO is reviewing ways to support new members and members moving into new roles, including mentorship materials, orientation resources, and role-specific tools.
Website Resource Library
BCASBO is looking at ways to better organize conference materials, professional learning resources, partner links, and member tools on the website, so they are easier to find and use. We will have the PowerPoint presentations from the 2025 Fall Conference, the 2026 AGM and conference, and Cohort 8 of the Leadership Series available soon.
Help Build BCASBO’s Member Resource Library
BCASBO is gathering member input to help identify the templates, tools, checklists, and resources that would be most useful in day-to-day district work.
Your feedback will help guide the development of practical resources that reflect real needs across roles, districts, zones, and functional areas.
Zone & Committee Connections
Zone Connections
Zone Directors play a key role in helping BCASBO stay connected to member questions, regional priorities, and emerging issues across the province.
The Executive Committee discussed opportunities to better support zone meetings through shared agenda and minutes templates, clearer standing items, and improved ways for information to move between zones and the Executive Committee.
This work will help ensure member questions, resource needs, and regional themes are captured and shared in a more consistent way.
Committee Reporting & Member Voice
BCASBO members participate in a variety of committees, networks, and sector discussions that help inform the Association’s work.
At the June meeting, the Executive Committee discussed the importance of clarifying committee roles, identifying who is serving on which committees, confirming reporting expectations, and ensuring information flows back to the Executive Committee and out to members where appropriate.
This will help BCASBO better share updates, identify priorities, and support members with timely and relevant information.
Stay Connected Through Your Zone Director
Members are encouraged to continue sharing questions, resource ideas, professional learning needs, and emerging issues through their Zone Directors. Zone feedback will help inform future BCASBO Briefings, member resources, professional learning opportunities, and Executive Committee discussions.
Leadership Lens
Each issue of the BCASBO Briefing will include a short leadership reflection connected to the work of school business officials, Association priorities, and the changing environment districts are navigating.
Leading Through Change: Staying the Course or Changing Course?
Leadership often requires balancing persistence with adaptability. In busy and complex environments, it can be tempting to keep pushing forward with a plan simply because time, effort, and resources have already been invested.
At the same time, effective leadership also requires knowing when to pause, reassess, and adjust course.
This is especially relevant as BCASBO continues to move its Strategic Plan into action, strengthen member resources, support new and existing members, respond to cost pressures, and build relationships with Ministry and sector partners.
As the Association looks ahead, one helpful question is:
Where do we need to stay the course, and where do we need to adapt to better support members?
Coming Up / Action Items
Members are encouraged to watch for further updates and opportunities connected to the following items.
- Watch for further details on the proposed Ministry Lunch & Learn Webinar series.
- Watch for updates on the 2026 Fall Conference, including planning, registration, and professional learning opportunities.
- Watch for information on Leadership Series Cohort 9, pending Ministry funding approval.
- Share ideas for member templates, tools, checklists, and resources through the Member Resource Input form.
- Continue sharing questions, emerging issues, and professional learning needs through your Zone Director.
- Watch for future updates on the sector-wide survey related to budget reduction and revenue generation strategies.
- Check the BCASBO website for AGM & Conference highlights, resources, and member updates.
For more information, visit www.bcasbo.ca or connect with BCASBO directly:
Executive Director
executivedirector@bcasbo.ca
Member Services Coordinator
mgosse@bcasbo.ca