Concerned Parents & Caregivers meet with Ministry staff: Summary
- Calvin Dubray
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
Summary
This is an overview from individuals from the Concerned Parents and Caregivers of Williams Lake (CPWL) group. In a last-minute meeting scheduled through the Ministry of Education and Child Care (MECC), Brad Baker, Superintendent of Indigenous Education, Jennifer McCrae, Associate Deputy Minister, Cheryl Lenardon, Superintendent of Schools for School District#27, Sean Cameron, Director of Instruction – Learning and Innovation for School District#27, and Angie Delainey, School District#27 Board Trustee representing Zone 5 and the Board Chair. The CPWL group was given 30 minutes to share their concerns and ask questions.
Key concerns raised include:
The lack of communication from the MECC and School District#27 (SD#27).
The racial violence, bullying, harassment, and discrimination in schools throughout the district.
The endless loop of discussing the same issues over and over with no apparent solutions or next steps.
The disappointment that previous reports and recommendations have been ignored.
The conversation touched on future actions including a promise from the MECC of providing information back to the CPWL by May 2, 2025, on next steps, key milestones of the Safer Schools Together review the MECC has implemented, and updates on the request from Esk’etemc, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), and the CPWL for an investigation.
Key Themes
Bullying, Racism, Harassment, and Discrimination: A central theme shared was the widespread experience of bullying, racial violence, harassment, and discrimination of children in School District 27. Parents and grandparents shared personal stories of their children/grandchildren being bullied. Some children have been severely impacted, with some of the families’ kids having to move away from the community, while another shared that a child was beaten to the point of needing medical help, and several shared instances of children expressing suicidal ideations.
Lack of Communication and Follow-up: A significant point of frustration was the lack of communication and follow-up from SD#27 and the MECC. CPWL members stated they had sent "many letters" but had not received responses from the MECC. They reported being shut down at school board meetings, limited to two-minute speeches, and not receiving follow-up from meetings with the Board or District leadership. Parents found it difficult to contact the district, describing the doors as locked and phones unanswered. Community meetings held by SD#27 senior leadership were reportedly put out at the last minute and poorly publicized.
Lack of Resources: Concerns were raised by the CPWL about the lack of resources in schools, particularly for younger children with behavioural issues. It was noted that there were not enough educational assistants (EAs), staff, or counsellors, leading to situations where teachers struggled to support children with significant needs. The point was made that if parents do not feel safe sending their children to school, they will pull them out, impacting enrollment numbers and, thus, funding.
Status of Review vs. Investigation: The CPWL group, along with the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) and Esk’etemc, have requested a full investigation into allegations of bullying, racial violence, harassment, and discrimination in School District 27. The MECC, however, launched a “review” led by Safer Schools Together instead. MECC representatives stated the review is wrapping up, and the report will be made public but did not say when or provide a time frame.
Loss of Trust: There was a stated “complete loss of trust” in the current School District leadership and Board over the last five or six years by the CPWL. This lack of trust stems from perceived issues of not being heard, being ignored, being stalled, parents being blamed, and victims being blamed.
Proposed Next Steps
A Full-Fledged Investigation: The CPWL group reiterated their request for a comprehensive investigation into School District 27 to uncover the full facts of the situation around racial violence, bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
Meeting with the Minister: the CPWL, Esk’etemc and the UBCIC are still asking for a direct meeting with Minister Beare and have not had any response to their letter dated April 14, 2025, to the Minister.
Improved and Direct Communication: CPWL emphasized the need for an avenue of communication, including receiving written responses to their letters from the MECC and School District, with the potential for a dedicated liaison to provide support and direction. They requested having a dedicated representative who can have direct communication, follow-up, and send/receive information with someone from the MECC.
Fundamental and Personnel Change: Given the complete loss of trust in the current leadership, the CPWL group was asked by Brad Baker of MECC if they wanted the Superintendent and School Board fired. CPWL believes there needs to be fundamental change in the School District, and if the MECC deems firing personnel to be the solution, they are open to that.
Hearing and Addressing Concerns: The CPWL group stressed the importance of people, particularly leaders, listening and hearing what is being said, putting politics aside to address the issues impacting children. They want the leaders present to stand up for the children.
Transparency: The CPWL group seeks transparency, including having many voices heard, including students, parents, teachers, EAs, councillors, mental health & medical professionals and all other stakeholders. The group also wants to know what the follow-up steps will be and how information, such as the Safer Schools review report, will be shared.
Adequate Time for Meetings: The CPWL group felt the short time allotted was insufficient to discuss their deep concerns and requested more time for future meetings.
Transcription and Online Availability: The CPWL requested the ability to transcribe the meeting to share accurately with the families they represent and the media and asked for online options for future meetings to allow wider participation. The MECC representatives stated they would have to go through government analytics for transcription and that recording meetings is not something they participate in without approvals.
MECC Promised Follow-Up
The MECC representatives stated they would take back the notes from the meeting to the Minister, who would then set the direction for any follow-up meetings. The MECC representatives committed that the report from the ‘Safer Schools Together’ review would be made public. They apologized for the short notice and the lack of a Zoom option for the meeting, although the afternoon meetings allowed for online engagement and guaranteed there would be a follow-up in writing. Jennifer McRae mentioned needing someone to step in for her follow-up responsibilities due to an upcoming personal matter.
With Gratitude
The CPWL group would like to express our appreciation and gratitude to the MECC for the meeting and the discussion. We know that when we stand up and speak out, we can highlight the challenges and work together on the solutions so our kids can thrive within the education system, most notably in School District#27.
