School District 57 took a step towards developing a formal policy for the naming, renaming or dual-naming of schools on Tuesday.
Trustee Sharel Warrington put forward a motion calling for the board to develop a standard policy for naming schools in the future on Tuesday. Instead the board passed a motion, put forward by board chairperson Tim Bennett, to have district staff look into the issue and report back to the board.
"It is an important conversation that needs to take place, when it's the appropriate time. I don't want that conversation to be lost," Warrington said. "Up to this point, the board has not had a policy in place to name, rename or dual name schools. A policy does need to be developed, and attendant procedures need to be developed."
Warrington said her motion was a direct response to the controversy around the naming of the secondary school opening in the Hart to replace the current Kelly Road school. She said she wanted to see the board adopt a policy with clear guidance around consultation with stakeholder groups and the public.
"I like the idea of having a policy in place. I don't ever want to get caught like that again,. We need to lay the groundwork for a better way," trustee Bob Thompson said. "Whether now it the time to do it, I am of two minds."
The concern raised by Thompson and other members of the board is that the school district is currently engaging in public consultation on a proposed new board policy manual. The deadline for public and stakeholder input on the draft policy manual in June 6 at 4 p.m. The draft manual, and information on how to submit feedback, can be found online here: www.sd57.bc.ca/Pages/newsitem.aspx?ItemID=322&ListID=75c80a8f-296a-4d0a-940f-ee765426e1a2&TemplateID=Announcement_Item#/=.
"I think we need a clear process for when we, or a future board, are faced with this again," Bennett said. "(But) as a board, we have policy out for consultation. (The draft policy manual) was developed prior to moving into the process for renaming Kelly Road. I believe administration has learned a lot through the last four months."
District administration and the board have work to do, reviewing the input on the draft policy manual, Bennett said. School naming and renaming may be able to be covered under an existing policy, he added, rather than requiring a new one.
Trustee Trent Derrick was the sole trustee to oppose the motion. He said having a clear policy may still not prevent controversies like the one about the Kelly Road/Shas Ti naming process.
In addition, having a proscriptive policy ties the hands of the current and future boards, he said.
"When it comes down to it, naming of a school is a board directive," Derrick said. "I won't be supporting it."
