In the wake of the dismissal of both the North Okanagan-Shuswap and Vancouver school boards, the province’s Green Party leader is introducing a bill to require by-elections within one year of the appointment of a single trustee.
But the move is being panned by members of the local District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC).
In the North Okanagan-Shuswap school district, the board was dissolved by the province in June 2016 and replaced by a single appointed trustee, Mike McKay, who stated he would be committed to the job until the November 2018 regular municipal election.
Vancouver’s school board was dismissed in October 2016.
Weaver, who is also the MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head, says democracy is not well served by having an appointed leader.
“This bill recognizes how important it is that our school boards are democratically elected. School boards that reflect and understand the unique nature of their district are better able to serve their communities,” says Weaver.
The suggestion has come up before with the BC School Trustees Association, but it was vigorously opposed by the local DPAC, who said time is needed to rectify the organizational dysfunction that led to the school board’s dismissal.
They also suggest that, as each situation is unique, a set time limit for a by-election would be a disservice to school districts.
“Our district needs time to stabilize and rebuild before we can move forward with a new board,” stated the DPAC in a November letter the Education Minister Mike Bernier.
DPAC president Kari Wilkinson confirmed the council’s position remains unchanged and would not support Weaver’s call for a one year by-election time limit.
“It does not have to happen on a rush basis,” says the DPAC statement.
