Image: SD33 / Trustees Teri Westerby (l to r), Richard Procee, Carin Bondar, Willow Reichelt, Laurie Throness, Margaret Reid and David Swankey form the Chilliwack Board of Education. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Chilliwack Board of Education

Progressive trustee majority postpones motion on academic achievement in Chilliwack schools

May 21, 2025 | 8:59 AM

CHILLIWACK — Earlier this year, former Chilliwack MLA Laurie Throness campaigned successfully on a platform of incorporating academic achievement into SD33 schools, culminating in his 11-point victory in a March trustee by-election.

It seemed fitting then, that Throness would make good on that promise at Tuesday’s monthly board meeting, submitting a motion that would have added “knowledge acquisition” to the definition of “deep learning” as one of SD33’s key values.

But progressive trustee Teri Westerby made a motion to remove Throness’ motion from the agenda, which was presented as item 4.3, because he didn’t believe it was an appropriate time to debate it.

“Considering that we are in the final stages of our refreshed strategic plan, which is created collaboratively with our partners, students and staff, I don’t believe that tonight’s board meeting is an appropriate venue to debate the contents or the merits of the motion,” Westerby said at Tuesday’s meeting.

Throness respectfully disagreed.

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“The reason I brought the motion forward today was so that it would be an appropriate time for consideration in the strategic review process,” Throness said. “So, that’s why I think it’s important that it be included today because there are about 2,839 comments from 1,624 parents in the strategic review that this is directly responding to. So, I do feel this is part of the strategic review process and it should be considered tonight.”

Board chair David Swankey said there had been a motion to table Throness’ motion pending consideration of the strategic review, tentatively, at the second meeting in June.

“I just want to be clear for the benefit of all members and the public, the comments were received as part of it and they helped inform that work, as a part of that process,” Swankey said, referring to feedback received from the district’s ongoing Strategic Plan.

Throness’ motion sought to address proficiency scores in academic achievement and knowledge acquisition, as evidenced in the latest FSA and FESL reports, contained in hundreds of parental responses to the Strategic Review exercise.

“At present, ‘academic achievement’ is not a core value of the district, which indicates to staff that academic achievement is of secondary importance to existing core values,” Throness wrote in his motion. “In addition, the definition of ‘deep learning’ does not include knowledge acquisition, even though the very concept of ‘learning’ which is central to the mission of our schools, presupposes the acquisition of knowledge so vital to the future success of our students. The motion is intended to provide clear direction that the acquisition of knowledge is a primary focus alongside other elements of deep learning. Programs, policies, funding and use of time flow from the core values and definitions of the District.”

Throness, who holds a PhD in history from Cambridge University, a master’s degree in public administration from Queen’s University, and several other degrees, told Fraser Valley Today in an email Tuesday night that he believes fellow trustees were not prepared to debate his motion.

“It appears that my colleagues were not prepared to talk about academic achievement today, nor about the acquisition of knowledge,” he said. “I’ll bring it up again; maybe next time they will be ready to address the issue on which I was elected, the issue that parents care so deeply about.”

Westerby was not keen on Throness winning the March by-election, labeling Throness a “career conservative politician” and saying his victory did not define Chilliwack in a rambling social media post just hours after the votes were counted.