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Prince George parents calling for clear path to have voices heard at school board level

DPAC wants an easier process for parent advocacy and engagement
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School District No. 57 Board Offices on Ferry Avenue.

The District Parent Advisory Council had some strong words for School District No. 57’s (SD57) Board of Education during the first public meeting of the school year.

This was also the first meeting after the resignations of the board’s former chair Trent Derrick and vice-chair Shuirose Valimohamed over concerns regarding systemic racism in the district as detailed within a special advisor’s report published in August. 

“This board does a horrible job of supporting and promoting advocacy,” said DPAC chairperson Andrea Beckett to the board during the public input portion of the meeting. 

She explained that DPAC is focusing on advocacy for the month of September and discussing with parents what issues, challenges and barriers they have faced. 

Beckett said DPAC represents the voices of the parents and community, however, it is not able to ensure their voices are heard if there is no clear path for the advocacy process. 

“For the past two years, we have been stuck with a mix of old policies and procedures, draft policies and procedures, outdated processes and bylaws combined with a lack of responsibility and ownership of who owns that.” 

Beckett gave an example of an issue that arose last year. In February 2020, DPAC called an emergency meeting with the board and senior administration upon discovering a number of students were on modified days and were not receiving a full day of education. 

She said after that meeting DPAC tried to engage with senior admin to better understand the process and advocacy struggles from a parent's perspective but became stuck in policy. 

DPAC requested to begin a conversation with the board but was directed to a policy requiring the request be made in writing, after which it would be placed on the policy and governance committee’s agenda. 

“What we want is to re-envision what this process looks like and how it works for parents,” said Beckett. “We want to improve the process for parents to engage with the system, to be able to advocate in a meaningful manner and to have their voices and truth be heard.” 

Beckett said that parents have checked out. 

“Many don’t believe that they have any more choices or get any assistance long before they get to the appeals process in its current state starts. So many parents have become so disillusioned and disenfranchised with the whole system before they ever even get to the appeals process,” said Beckett. 

“Most parents don’t trust the school system, this district, or this board. We want to change that - but we need you to do your part, to own your part and to actually engage with us. We want your words to match your actions.” 

She said given the difficulty she’d had as chairperson of DPAC to start a conversation on improving the advocacy process, she can’t imagine how difficult it must be for parents needing to use the existing dispute resolution process. 

Beckett requested the board meet with DPAC, senior administration, and the Ministry Special Advisors to develop a concrete plan to develop a bylaw that supports advocacy in the district. 

Board Chair Sharel Warrington agreed to the meeting. 

“We are taking your words very seriously,” said Warrington. “I understand, and we understand, the lack of trust that is there and our full attention is to rebuild it and we will meet with you and we will have that conversation and we will make a difference with your help.” 

Later in the meeting, Warrington commented on the recent leadership changes at the board level. 

“All members of the board share Trent and Shuirose’s passion for addressing the inequities and the need to improve student outcomes and supports for Indigenous students and all students,” said Warrington. 

She said the board has met with the Special Advisors and began working on the 45 recommendations listed in the report. 

“This is not work this board can do alone. We need to reach out and work with our staff, Indigenous leaders, Indigenous community, with our parents, teachers and students if we are going to make any difference.” 

SD57’s public board meetings are available to watch in full online