Eight years of ideologically-driven policy have not just produced bad educational outcomes. They have undermined trust and fostered secrecy not just in our schools but in the larger community. Reasonable or not, many Chilliwack residents feel intimidated to express their concerns in public school board meetings for fear of retribution or ridicule.

Parents and students are often worried that if they express concerns or have impolitic questions about what is happening in their schools, it is they, not their concern that will be labeled the problem. And the hard-working teachers and educational assistants worry that if a policy or practice is making their job dangerous or flat-out impossible, they cannot trust either their administrator or their union not to choose their ideologically-driven narrative over ensuring safe and supportive working conditions.

For this reason, we hope to establish a local School Ombudsperson’s office with a similar mandate to
the provincial ombudsperson’s with a twofold specialized mandate of

receiving and resolving complaints and concerns from students, staff, parents and community members in an ideologically neutral manner; and
making recommendations to re-establish a high-trust culture in our education system with a goal of eventually phasing out this office.

Of course, Chilliwack residents would remain free to lodge complaints with the provincial
ombudsperson’s office and, in the event of complex complaints, our office would necessarily work with
the provincial office.

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For more information, please contact:
Barbara Bednarski 778-255-1935

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