Subject: Urgent Petition Demanding Ministry Intervention in North East School Division Governance and Practices

Dear Minister Hindley,

We, the undersigned parents and community members of SubDivision 4 of the North East School Division, demand immediate and decisive intervention from the Ministry of Education regarding repeated and unacceptable failures by the division in the elementary schools of our community. These failures flagrantly compromise parental rights, student safety, and community representation.

Despite numerous attempts to resolve these issues locally, the division has shown persistent negligence and an unacceptable disregard for its responsibilities. This inaction leaves us no choice but to escalate our concerns to the provincial level.

We bring the following critical issues to your urgent attention:

1. Lack of Parental Consent for Media and Field Trips
Students have been exposed to films and field trips—including a planned visit to James Smith Cree Nation, which at the intended time of the trip had a fugitive at large—without prior, signed parental consent. This blatant violation undermines parents’ fundamental right to make informed decisions about their children’s participation and puts student safety at risk. 

2. Inadequate Communication of Immunization Dates
Although blanket immunization consent is obtained annually, specific immunization dates are not communicated to parents in advance. Families only learn of these dates after the fact, causing undue emotional distress and disrupting personal medical and extracurricular planning.

3. Insufficient Support for Students with Learning Disabilities
Requests for necessary accommodations and supports are routinely ignored or minimized. Professional recommendations are not adequately implemented, forcing families to seek costly external resources without adequate school support.

4. Removal of Local Cultural Traditions
Long-standing community traditions, including Christmas concerts and recognition of athletic achievements, have been unjustly diminished or eliminated. This erodes student identity and undermines the cultural fabric of our community.

5. Undue Interference in School Community Councils (SCCs)
The division’s administrative interference has compromised the independence of School Community Councils, restricting meaningful parental participation in school governance and decision-making.

6. Elimination of the Second Trustee Position for Our Subdivision
The removal of the subdivision’s second trustee seat, coupled with the Director of Education’s refusal to reinstate it, severely diminishes our community’s representation and voice on the school board.

We hereby demand that the Ministry of Education:

• Enforce a strict opt-in parental consent policy for all media and field trips, requiring documented approval prior to any student participation.
• Mandate timely, written notification of immunization dates with no less than two weeks’ advance notice.
• Conduct an immediate and thorough audit of special education services to ensure full compliance with provincial standards and meaningful parental involvement.
• Establish clear guidelines protecting the expression of local cultural traditions within schools.
• Guarantee the independence of School Community Councils and prohibit undue divisional interference and ensure accountability measures are implemented against any breaches.
• Reinstate the second trustee position for our subdivision to restore fair and equitable community representation.

We expect a formal, written response outlining the Ministry’s planned course of action within 30 days of receipt of this petition. Failure to address these concerns promptly and adequately will compel us to pursue all available legal remedies and public advocacy measures to safeguard our children’s rights and community values.

The undersigned stand united in our resolve to uphold parental rights, student safety, and democratic governance within our schools. We trust the Ministry will treat this matter with the seriousness it warrants.

Respectfully,
Concerned Parents and Community Members of the North East School Division