On February 27, students from Tumbler Ridge Secondary School were invited to return to class.
“The Board of School District 59 (SD59) Peace River South is immensely grateful for the work of so many staff, ministries, organizations, agencies and businesses that made it possible for students to return to education as quickly as possible after the tragedy in February,” says SD59 Board Chair Chad Anderson. “We are thankful for all those who have supported our staff, students and families in the phased return to school, and appreciate the many questions that necessarily arise in a traumatic situation, and in a process of rapid change with the portable classrooms for secondary students.”
While not everyone—staff or student—has returned to school, Anderson says more people have returned than expected. “I believe we are seeing a community that suffered such a tragedy together, healing as a community, as well. But we respect that each staff member, student and family will need to move at their own pace as we approach spring.”
Nicole Noksana, who sits on the Tumbler Ridge Parent Advisory Council (TRPAC) says the council appreciates the hard work being done for the children of Tumbler Ridge. “The introduction of flexible learning options, including hybrid and at-home models, shows a strong commitment to supporting students and families during this tough time.”
However, says Noksana, TRPAC continues to advocate for both the students and staff of TRSS. “We ask SD59 to engage in meaningful discussions with TRSS faculty to help guide decisions about returning to in-person learning and continuing coursework. It is also important to involve students and families in this process so their needs and perspectives are understood and taken into account.”
Many parents have felt left out of discussions about next steps. “While we value the role of Safer Schools and broader provincial supports, we strongly believe local voices should play a key role in guiding decisions that directly affect our students, teachers, and school community.”
Noksana says TRPAC is also requesting ongoing, clear communication about the next steps, “including chances for parents, especially those directly affected, to give input as plans are developed, not after they are implemented. Currently, we are concerned about the clarity and consistency of communication regarding future plans. We want assurance that the voices of the Tumbler Ridge community will be genuinely considered in decisions that will shape the future for our students.”
Trent is the publisher of Tumbler RidgeLines.
