Board broke its own protocol

Dear editor: A group of concerned parents from West Kelowna will be presenting at the upcoming (Wednesday, March 14) School District 23 public board meeting regarding the Feb. 28 decision to reconfigure schools in West Kelowna.

School District 23’s policy and procedures manual states that the superintendent must present any school closures or consolidation to the board of trustees in November, to be followed by “a process of discussion and consultation with parents, staff and the community” no later than January. The policy also states that “consultation will be meaningful, and fair consideration will be given to all public input prior to the board making its final decision.”

Not only have the prescribed timelines been violated, but there was no consultation or discussion with the community. Both the board chair and the superintendent acknowledged at the Feb. 28 meeting that the school district’s standard policies and practices were not adhered to in this case.

The board will be asked to set aside their decision to reconfigure in 2018 so they can follow their own policies and to begin consultation with community partners.

They have created a petition (.ipetitions.com/petition/west-kelownaschools#comments) which they will be presenting to the board on Wednesday. They are also urging everyone to contact the trustees and let them know your thoughts on the reconfiguration. The meeting will take place Wednesday in Room No. 1 of the Hollywood Road Education Services building at 1040 Hollywood Road South, beginning at 6 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend. Sara Neukomm Matthew Witt Chantelle Desrosiers West Kelowna