Independent media needs you. Join the Tyee.

Blogs

The Hook: Political news, freshly caught

Parents vote down motion to remove Langley school trustees

The District Parent Advisory Council may have seen their motion to remove Langley’s board of education voted down last night, but Council President Megan Dykeman-Porohowski couldn’t be more proud.

“It went really well. We had 30 schools come out to our meeting last night. That is the largest turnout as far as anybody can remember in the history of the Langley DPAC,” Dykeman-Porohowski told the Tyee. “It was defeated 13 against the motion, 10 for the motion, seven abstained. So that was very close, but the parents of the Langley District were very clear, they want accountability, they want the AG report implemented, but at this point in time they do not want the board of education removed.”

The vote came a week after the public announcement by the District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) executive of their motion to request Minister of Education Margaret MacDiarmid remove the Langley Board of Education and replace them with an official trustee.

The board has been mired in controversy since March 2009 when it was discovered that a budget surplus was actually a multimillion-dollar deficit that reached $13.5 million by February 2010. The province’s auditor general was brought in to investigate the board’s operations and the subsequent report, released earlier this month, painted a picture of a dysfunctional working relationship where trustees could not get along.

A week after the report’s release, board Chair Joan Bech resigned, citing pressure from other trustees to remove herself from the board. Soon after DPAC argued the $50,000 to $70,000 cost of a by-election to replace Bech could be better spent on education and services in the district.

“I’m very honoured to be the president of a district, Langley DPAC, because these parents, they came out, they had a strong voice,” Dykeman-Porohowski told the Tyee. “This district was hurting and this conversation needed to happen. At the beginning of the night it was emotionally charged, at the end of the night it was constructive, intelligent conversation. And as the president of the Langley DPAC, I couldn’t be more proud to be involved with such intelligent people.”

Find more in:

What have we missed? What do you think? We want to know. Comment below. Keep in mind:

Do:

  • Verify facts, debunk rumours
  • Add context and background
  • Spot typos and logical fallacies
  • Highlight reporting blind spots
  • Ignore trolls
  • Treat all with respect and curiosity
  • Connect with each other

Do not:

  • Use sexist, classist, racist or homophobic language
  • Libel or defame
  • Bully or troll
  • Troll patrol. Instead, flag suspect activity.
comments powered by Disqus