Parents group appeals petition snub

Hatters dissatisfied with SD 76 policies protecting LGBTQ students are hoping the courts will allow them to further voice their frustrations through a public meeting and formation of a committee

A group of parents that petitioned SD76 for a public meeting to form a committee to implement the provinces guidelines for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer students has filed an appeal with the Court of Queen’s Bench after its petition was deemed insufficient earlier this month.

Jeremy Williamson, one of the parents who spearheaded the petition, filed the appeal on Oct. 21 to have the petition deemed sufficient for the calling of a public meeting.

According to the affidavit filed, Williamson states: “It is therefore my opinion, and the opinion of several of the signatories of the petition that a proper evaluation of the petition was not conducted, and inquiries into evidence for the Secretary’s decision have been obstructed.”

Williamson also states interactions with SD76 and procedural processes acted upon or with the board, “Have damaged the public trust in the board.”

The petition was officially deemed insufficient at the Oct. 11 meeting of the SD76 board. Under Section 267 of the School Act, those bringing the petition had 14 days to file an appeal with the court if they desired.

The petition was started in response to the passing of policies by the board protecting sexual orientation and gender identity in schools and to ensure safe environments at school for LGBTQ students.

The petition was delivered to the school board on Sept. 19, with 2,030 signatures, though a review of the petition from Jerry Labossiere, SD76 secretary/treasurer, found 110 signatures did not qualify as electors of the SD76 Board of Trustees, due to their address being outside district boundaries or being identified as Catholic School supporters, the rejection letter reads. Another 259 names of the remaining 1,920 names were deemed noncompliant, as they had either no address or postal code, according to the letter.

A petition to call a public meeting requires a minimum of 2,000 signatures of valid electors in the school board, according to the Alberta School Act. At the Oct. 11 board meeting, SD 76 reported 7,079 students enrolled in the division for the 2016/2017 school year.

In the affidavit, Williamson says he emailed Labossiere for additional details as to why the 110 signatures were rejected, and received a reply stating no further time would be spent on the petition, saying the letter identifies the reason the petition didn’t meet the threshold.

Labossiere says the appeal is now in the hands of the court.

“He has the right to appeal and he’s exercising that right, and now it’s our job to respond to it,” he said.

The matter will be heard in the Court of Queen’s Bench on Nov. 17 at 10 a.m.