District 57 trustees are adding their voice to the chorus of local objections to a new education policy that removes subsidies to high school course upgrades for graduated adults.
First-time trustee Bob Harris brought forward a motion at Tuesday night's school board meeting that trustees challenge the Ministry of Education to reverse the December announcement.
"My concern is the group that may be disadvantaged already have a number of barriers that they face and I just wouldn't want another one placed in front of them," Harris said after the meeting.
The changes mean, starting May 2015, any person with a Dogwood diploma will no longer get tuition-free access to a list of 34 high school courses, like English 12, Chemistry 12 and Math 12.
Harris said these courses are necessary to help students access jobs and higher education.
Last week the faculty at the College of New Caledonia issued a press release arguing the changes will especially impact low-income and Aboriginal learners.
Tim Bennett suggested the board refer to that letter in order to communicate a similar message.
The college's student union is planning a public forum on Feb. 5 to discuss community concerns.
Harris told the school board the ministry's move is complicated by a newly signed co-governance agreement between it and BC School Trustees Association, of which District 57 is a member.
He noted the memorandum of understanding between the government and the BCSTA was signed Dec. 5 - one day after the changes to adult upgrades were announced.
"The sad irony is that having made the announcement the prior day, on the fourth, there was no consultation with the BCSTA regarding that announcement and it's important because it has such a major impact on so many of our students," Harris said.
"In the co-governance model, it creates at least the perception that consultation is not as robust as it might be."
Trustees voted to write two letters: one that addressed adult education, and another regarding their co-governance concerns.
Vice-chair Brenda Hooker said the issue is more nuanced when considering the realities of rural schools.
"Another concern we raised regarding the adult upgrading was how the impact on our rural students, where they necessarily don't have the same opportunity for courses that they need for continuing on in education at their schools because the declining enrolment and the lack of student that may want to take Physics 12, for example."
This issue, she said, was brought up when trustees met with MLAs in mid-January.
