The Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (VCPAC) is the official representative for Parent Advisory Councils within School District 61 (SD61). Our primary task under provincial legislation to advise the School Board on “any matter relating to education in the school district” on behalf of parents and guardians of students.
VCPAC does not have an official position on the SPLO program, given the diverse views of parents, guardians and students within SD61.
Further, VCPAC does not have an official position on the three latest draft safety plans, given the lack of time to properly consult with families. VCPAC is concerned by the procedural weaknesses of the safety plan review as ordered in Ministerial Order No. M406. Specifically, VCPAC was not provided an opportunity to be included in the development of the recent draft safety plans; VCPAC was not made aware that the School Board Trustees were excluded from the December 31st, 2024 Implementation Table Meeting; and the very short consultation period between December 5th, 2024 and January 6th, 2025 coincided with the winter holidays, which did not leave adequate time for engagement with families.
VCPAC is also concerned that the Minister of Education and Child Care, the Honorable Lisa Beare, is allowing one aspect of safety in schools to interfere with a functioning and democratically elected school board within SD61. VCPAC has found the current school board, who began their term in October 2022, to be responsive to parent concerns on a broad number of issues. Further, VCPAC has established a strong collegial and productive working relationship with the current board, which has resulted in numerous board resolutions in support of parent concerns over the past two school years (2022-23 and 2023-24).
Importantly, the current school board of SD61 have been very supportive of working with VCPAC and other partners with respect to discussions around improving equity, diversity, inclusion and student safety, and has meaningfully attempted to source data with respect to student-to-student and student-to-staff incidents within schools.
For clarity, VCPAC does not want the current and democratically elected board to be relieved of their duties.
While the safety of our children is obviously a priority to all parents and guardians, we are deeply disappointed that this Minister has not provided the resources needed to make meaningful progress on ensuring safe schools for all students.
If this Minister is truly concerned with ensuring safety in our schools, she would ensure that our public schools have the funding they need to address all aspects of student safety and wellbeing.
Kind Regards,
The Executive
Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (VCPAC)
