Parent group calls for removal of 6 Hanover School Division trustees over policy concerns
Parent alliance cites new policy giving trustees hiring authority over gym, music teachers
A group of parents in the Steinbach, Man., area is calling for the removal of six trustees who serve on the board of the Hanover School Division over fears some recent ideas discussed by the board — and a new policy it implemented — are discriminatory.
The Hanover Parent Alliance for Diversity sent a letter to the office of Manitoba Education Minister Nello Altomare raising a number of concerns, including the board's recent approval of a new hiring policy for gym and music teachers.
"This letter is both a formal complaint against the Hanover School Board, and an urgent request for you to take corrective actions," the letter to Altomare, said.
The letter, which contains allegations CBC has not independently verified, is dated April 25.
On April 2, a motion brought forward by trustee Shayne Barkman to give the school board hiring authority over gym teachers and music teachers, similar to the process used to hire vice-principals, was passed in a 5-4 vote, board chair Brad Unger told CBC earlier this month.
Traditionally, assistant superintendents and principals of schools hire teachers, he said.
"With this motion, with this passing into policy, specifically gym teachers and music teachers will no longer be hired through the assistant superintendents and principals, although those are still allowed into the interview room, but the final say will now come from trustees," said Unger.
The alliance alleges the policy is an attempt to reduce the number of diverse and 2SLBGTQ+ staff in the division, but it said the reasons given by trustees during the meeting were that music and gym teachers are the faces of the division at sporting events and concerts.
When reached by phone by CBC News on Friday, Shayne Barkman declined to articulate his reasons for introducing and supporting the motion, deferring comment to board chair Brad Unger, who was one of the trustees who voted against the policy because he felt it was redundant.
"Those were my opinions, but ultimately now that it's become a board policy myself and other trustees will support the board decision," Unger told CBC.
'Step back': Teachers' association
Kevin Martens, president of the Hanover Teachers' Association, worries the change will slow down the hiring process because trustees would have to be present for interviews every time a new gym or music teacher is hired.
"This is a step back," Martens said, adding trustees used to be involved in hiring teachers but moved away from the job as the organization has grown.
He said normally, trustees are involved in hiring superintendents, who in turn are responsible for hiring staff for schools.
The trustees "are really involved at a high level of these people who are going to be leaders in schools and leaders in communities, and then from there it's supposed to be turned over to those decision-makers to do the hiring of staff for schools."
Martens, who was at the meeting when the change was implemented, said he finds the new policy confusing but wouldn't speculate on the reason for the change.
The parents' alliance, which said it's backed by a petition with more than 1,000 signatures as of Friday, wants Altomare to "disqualify" Unger and assistant chair Jeff Friesen, as well as trustees Lynn Barkman, Shayne Barkman, Cheryl Froese and Dallas Wiebe.
A parent with a child in the division serving as a spokesperson for the alliance said the group feels "they aren't fit for the offices they hold."
CBC News has agreed not to identify the parent due to their fears speaking out on the issue could lead to harassment and threats within the community for them and their child.
The alliance is also requesting the minister appoint a board oversight person and conduct a thorough evaluation of all Hanover School Division board policies and recent motions.
Alliance cites defeated motions
In the letter, the alliance cited two other motions introduced and defeated at the April 2 board meeting. One initially called for trustees to be notified of all applications for all positions within Hanover School Division, but even after being revised to only include applicants for principal and vice-principal jobs, the motion wasn't approved.
Another motion that didn't pass called on students to be separated by gender to receive Grade 7 sex education curriculum, the letter to Altomare said.
"This motion is harmful and exclusionary to any students who don't identify with the debunked concept of a gender binary," the letter said.
Neither a video recording, nor the minutes of that meeting, were available on the division's website, which contains previous meeting minutes, as of Friday.
The letter sent to the minister alleges the trustees have failed to meet duties outlined in the Public Schools Act to ensure students have a safe and caring school environment and to establish a policy concerning respect for human diversity.
CBC News reached out to all trustees named by the alliance. Only Shayne Barkman and Lynn Barkman answered before deadline, with both declining to comment on the letter, deferring to the chair of the board.
In an emailed statement, Unger said the board is reviewing the document sent by the alliance to the minister.
"We are committed to thoroughly understanding the concerns expressed and addressing this matter with the attention and seriousness it deserves," Unger wrote.
"We will respond as soon as our review is complete. The board remains dedicated to ensuring an inclusive and equitable environment for all our students and staff."
The letter has been sent to the minister's office, who will be reviewing it and may have more to say next week, said Altomare's press secretary, Naline Rampersad.
Read the letter from the Hanover Parent Alliance for Diversity below or by clicking here:
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With files from Lara Schroeder