A recommendation to give parents prior notice to presentations being made in their children’s schools was defeated Tuesday at the School District 57 (SD57) board meeting.
Board Chair Rachael Weber brought forward the motion to set parameters around communication with parents about events scheduled in schools.
“The creation of a new policy statement will ensure that parents are adequately informed about upcoming presentations to be held at district schools,” read Weber’s rationale.
“The key components of this consideration should include providing parents with sufficient notice for all school presentations to allow families time to determine whether attending the presentation is in the best interest of their child’s education.”
She said this would promote transparency, parental involvement and a more collaborative educational environment.
Trustee Shar McCrory questioned whether this was a governance issue or something that should be left up to individual schools to administer.
“I think it’s up to the schools and we have leadership in our schools that make those decisions,” she said. “I question why as a board we are making that policy when I feel it is an operational action.”
Weber responded that she thinks important communication goes out to families within a respectable timeline so a notice isn’t handed out on a Friday evening after school about a presentation being done on a Monday.
“It’s giving the parents a voice on how their children are being educated.”
Trustee Erica McLean said while she supports improving communications, she could not support the motion because it’s specific to presentations and feels reactionary.
Trustee Bob Thompson then asked acting superintendent Pam Spooner whether or not she thought this was an operational matter or a governance matter.
“It’s not my job to tell you guys what to do as a board but I want to honestly tell you that it would be a mistake,” said Spooner. “We hire teachers and principals to do the job and we need to be able to trust them to run presentations and how they handle those presentations at their schools and that is my opinion.”
Trustee Sarah Holland then agreed she believes it’s an operational matter and that she cannot support the motion as phrased.
“To me this is simple transparency. Parents deserve to know what their kids are doing. Parents deserve to know what they are walking into on a Monday,” added Weber. “This motion is not to ban presentations. This motion is to establish a way parents can be involved in knowing what is happening.”
However, when it came to a vote it was defeated by the board.
Following adjournment of the board meeting, Weber said she believes this issue is not done and intends to bring it forward at more meetings and at the policy advisory committee.
“I have a child in the school district and I can tell you many times, I have been frustrated with receiving notice a day in advance of something actually happening and not having the means or the time allowed to make sure that my child can attend so I think this is just transparency and what parents are asking for.”
