Editor:
I am glad to hear School District No. 46 (SD46) is looking at their communication protocols and talking about changing renovation policy, (Coast Reporter, May 10), but I hope they are compelled to do more than that to resolve their issues.
The concerns and requests made by 60 parents and community members are real and action has been taken by other Canadian and American schools, health authorities and government bodies. This confirmation came from the president and CEO of Canadians for a Safe Learning Environment (CASLE), an organization in Nova Scotia which has been working on these very same issues for 20 years. Senior staff from the provincial departments of labour, environment, health, education, and finance and provincial school boards in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick have all been working with CASLE to improve children's environmental health and safety in schools. Nova Scotia has become a healthy schools leader in North America.
What has happened here at Langdale Elementary School, at Roberts Creek Elementary School and in SD46 is not unique. This is a national and international issue. This validation from CASLE is proof that our concerns are real, that change is happening elsewhere and improvementsare therefore possible for SD46.
Can our school district fully respond to this knowledge and take action themselves? Can they also be leaders in keeping our kids healthy and safe? What more is needed to motivate SD46 to see that change is necessary? What are the barriers that are keeping this from happening?
Lisa Tallon, Gibsons
