Emotions ran high, some parents shed tears and some shouted, as concerns over violence and bullying in schools were heard at a School District 27's policy committee meeting on June 12.
A group of parents and a few students attended the public meeting Tuesday evening at the board office as the committee discussed the district's policy 390 Safe and Caring School Communities and school codes of conduct. The parents were asking for more open dialogue and solutions around what they see as a crisis of bullying and violence in schools.
Willow Macdonald, Ciel Patenaude, Anne Kohut and Michael Franklin were the school district trustees in the room, while Linda Martens attended the meeting remotely.
High school principals and vice principals were there as well, to listen and respond. Hattie Darney, principal of Columneetza Junior Secondary, said the current code of conduct could be updated to better reflect what is happening in the school. She cited the use of restorative justice measures to address issues as having a positive effect in the school.
Curt Levens, principal of Lake City Secondary, agreed with Darney and said the code of conduct could be strengthened but said most students say they feel safe in the school. A survey was done in April of Grades 2 through 12 in the school district.
The board allowed attendees to speak to the packed room on school codes of conduct, many speakers going longer than the two minutes they were allowed.
Macdonald was the chair of the meeting and explained parents needed to discuss specific incidents with teachers and then principals but welcomed input on the policy.
"Those specific conversations have to start somewhere other than here," she said, noting the board cannot get involved in specifics between individuals.
The parents called for more alternate school options, more in-school counselling, security to help get a handle on what they see as escalating violence, and firmer consequences for bullying and violence, and at earlier ages to help address problem behaviour sooner,.
While most of the discussion was respectful, at a couple of times in the meeting, voices were raised and comments became pointed on both sides.
Chris van der Mark, school district superintendent, who is retiring from the district this year after serving five years as superintendent, was the target of some of the harshest criticism.
Calvin Dubray, education director for Esk'etemc (previously known as Alkali Lake First Nation), asked about the board's strategy on recruitment and looking at exit interviews with some of the staff who have left in recent years. Dubray suggested those on the front lines needed to have more support to better deal with the issue of violence in schools. Dubray was previously the principal of Marie Sharpe Elementary School with School District 27, and served more than 20 years with the district before leaving.
Van der Mark shot back to suggest the district was better for the loss of some of those staff.
The meeting went on for two and a half hours, as parents and one student spoke, expressing fear, anger and a desire for change. One mom stood up with her daughter and both were in tears as they described the fear the young woman had around going to school.
The mom said the schools needed to be made more secure from unauthorized visitors.
Another father expressed his frustration with the response the school board had provided after his daughter experienced escalating bullying and the severe mental distress she experienced, leading to suicidal ideations.
He said he has been trying to engage with the school board on her safety for more than a year and a half year and said he had been stonewalled.
Ciel Patenaude, school district trustee and school board chair, tried to explain the constraints around the board engaging directly with parents and how important following a process is to address these concerns.
"What's the process after my daughter commits suicide," he asked.
Patenaude stopped him and said his comments were inappropriate but did thank him for coming and speaking when he had finished.
She asked him if he thought the district's code of conduct needed to change or was simply not being followed through, to which he responded it was not being followed through.
The father did ask for a more transparent process for students suspended for bullying to return to school and a plan to do so, even suggesting homeschooling for problem students who were repeat offenders. He said his family was surprised when the student responsible for the incidents related to his daughter was back in the school before they were informed of the return.
The policy committee had been working to engage with parents and students on the caring schools policy and school codes of conduct, however, only a small number of responses had been received through their process. Columneetza Junior Secondary had hosted a meeting, which six parents attended and four provided responses from. No parents from Lake City Secondary School had provided feedback on their code of conduct during the process.
"As we discuss codes of conduct it is also possible we are seeing another outcome of the isolation created by COVID. People appear unable or unwilling to discuss their issue at its source. Unsurprisingly, the outcomes are unsatisfying," wrote van der Mark in his briefing note to the policy committee.
Some board members at the meeting expressed their support and appreciation for van der Mark, noting the hard work he has done and his recognition by the province. Van der Mark received a Premier's Award for Excellence in Education in 2023.
The Ministry of Education required school districts to review and update their policies around safety beginning in February of this year, when new legislation came in restricting the use of personal digital devices in schools. Codes of conduct are specific to schools and are also expected to be revisited each September and communicated.
