We含羞草研究社檝e heard enough.
That was the message from Central Okanagan school trustees in eliminating the second public question/comment opportunity provided at board of education meetings.
Board chair Lee-Ann Tiede announced the move at the board meeting Wednesday, referencing several discriminatory and inflammatory comments made by parents at the Feb. 22 meeting, saying comments were made along with inappropriate conduct which have made students and staff feel unsafe.
含羞草研究社淚t has also been reported that recording of these meetings and social media comments that demean or belittle members of the board of education and public have made them feel unsafe to conduct board business,含羞草研究社� said Tiede in a prepared statement.
含羞草研究社淭his current environment is compromising our ability to properly address the business of the board of education.含羞草研究社�
Tiede said the board was following the advice of Central Okanagan Public Schools superintendent/CEO Kevin Kaardal, recommending the open question/comment period at public board meetings be suspended immediately because of violation of School District Policy 351 regarding a respectful workplace and creation of a workplace that is viewed as unsafe by staff and students.
Tiede further advised that recording on personal devices during board meetings will now be banned.
She noted the first question/comment period related specifically to action items on the school board meeting agenda will remain in place.
The move comes after the board initially considered ending the public question/comment period last fall but opted to keep it in place.
While trustees were unanimous in endorsing the resolutions, support was also expressed by school district administrative staff.
含羞草研究社淭his decision aligns with our guiding principles of diversity and inclusion, our cultural values of respect and equity, and our purpose of educating students in a safe, inclusive, equitable and inspirational learning environment,含羞草研究社� said deputy superintendent Terry-Lee Beaudry.
含羞草研究社淏ullying, discrimination, harassment and hate speech is not tolerated in our schools and workplaces, and we appreciate this effort to stop discriminatory behaviour at public board meetings.含羞草研究社�
Delta Carmichael, school district secretary treasurer/CFO, added that school district staff consistently made themselves available to hear from members of the public, and continue to look forward to constructive and respectfully feedback through the many communication channels that exist to receive public input, including the school district website under the board meeting info link for 含羞草研究社楺uestions & Comments.含羞草研究社�
含羞草研究社淎s the parliamentarian to the board of education, as secretary treasurer/CFO, I am accountable for ensuring the business of the board is respectfully and successfully carried out at each board meeting,含羞草研究社� said Carmichael in a statement.
含羞草研究社淭he action taken this evening will ensure the business of the board can be completed professionally and efficiently.含羞草研究社�
Tiede told Black Press after the meeting it was unfortunate the board felt this action was needed.
含羞草研究社淚 would say it was a culmination of things rather than one particular thing that led us to this point,含羞草研究社� she said, noting Central Okanagan is not the only school district in B.C. to have taken this action.
At the Feb. 25 meeting, a parent took issue with comments made by trustee Wayne Broughton in a Capital News article related to a billboard being taken down because it was found to be offensive.
She read back quotes Broughton had made in the article out of context, without stating what issue she was attempting to address before being cut off by Tiede upon reaching her three-minute allotted speaking time.
Broughton defended his point of view related to being supportive to LGBTQ2 students, of providing them a safe and inclusive sanctuary within our public schools at the Feb. 25 meeting, a point he referenced again at Wednesday含羞草研究社檚 meeting.
含羞草研究社淲e need to protect all our students from unhealthy rhetoric and let students be free to be themselves,含羞草研究社� Broughton said.
Trustee Julia Fraser said it must be clearly understood to the public and reiterated by the board of education the verbal assault of untrue accusations against any trustee or staff member is not acceptable.
Fraser also spoke to ongoing negative comments on social media about the SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity) program, adopted by the school district six years ago.
Fraser said she was a trustee when the SOGI initiative was adopted and called it an overwhelming success based on feedback she has heard from parents in the time since.
含羞草研究社淢y opinion is still that SOGI has been a positive resource for our school district,含羞草研究社� said Fraser.
Parents in recent years have often taken the public question/comment period to voice criticisms about the SOGI program, supposed pornographic books in the schools and opposing the provincial vaccine program during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
