Shocked they can't appeal

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Concerned residents say they are seeking assistance in having a special advisor, an independent third party who can report findings to the Ministry of Education, appointed to review the process used by School District 67 to close Trout Creek Elementary School and reconfigure all remaining schools in Summerland.

They say they have asked the board for this and been refused.

"This issue is important to Summerland and we are certain it will be of great interest provincially. There has been significant media coverage regarding the actions of School District 83, School District 53 and School District 67 already. With more school closures on the horizon, further issues regarding the accountability of school boards can be anticipated," said Trout Creek parent Gillian Stevens.

During the school closure process in the district, residents say they were shocked to discover that no appeal process was in place to ensure the accountability of school boards.

In the past, the Ministry of Education assumed that role, but in 2002 legislative changes were made giving district school boards complete autonomy.

"How can a board with so much power over children and communities not have an appeal process? Boards may find themselves in a direct conflict of interest, where they must choose between cutting their own administrative positions (either directly or through pursuing shared service initiatives) or closing schools. How can the public be assured of accountability with neither an appeal process or third-party oversight mechanisms in place," said Stevens.

She added there have been multiple policy and procedure errors by the district with regard to the closing of Trout Creek and they feel is it essential to have an objective third party review of what is being proposed for the community.

The residents are now asking that people write to the ministry and board to have a special advisor appointed.

The school, along with West Bench Elementary and McNicoll Park Middle School, is slated to close June 30.

Board chair Linda Van Alphen said at their last meeting on May 9, it was explained to the Trout Creek Elementary parent still in attendance that the trustees had no intention of asking the Minister of Education to appoint a special advisor because they felt their process was solid.

However, it was also confirmed that they could make the request directly to the Minister of Education themselves. However an appointment of a special advisor would require significant substantive evidence of mismanagement of School District 67 by the board and senior staff.

In the case of School District 83, she said it was the board itself that made the request to the Minister of Education to appoint a special advisor.