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School District 20 Kootenay-Columbia
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Kinnaird Elementary, Stanley Humphries Secondary, Twin Rivers Elementary, Fruitvale Elementary, James L Webster Elementary, J Lloyd Crowe Secondary, Rossland Summit School, Glenmerry Elementary, Robson Community School, Kootenay Columbia Secondary, Kootenay-Columbia Learning Centre
Complaints process overview
Note: Policies and procedures may change over time. This review reflects the information available as of March 2026 and was compiled to the best of my understanding. Readers should consult the original district policies and bylaws for the authoritative and most up-to-date procedures. If you notice errors, please provide feedback via the form below.
This page explains how SD20 expects parents, students, and community members to raise concerns or pursue formal appeals. The district provides limited informal complaint guidance through its website, followed by a formal appeal process governed by Bylaw 5.3 – Public Access to the Board – Appeals under section 11 of the School Act. SD20 also provides a separate process for challenging a learning resource used in the district.
How the district frames complaints
SD20 frames its appeals process around fairness and entitlement to review. The district states that it wants to ensure families receive a fair hearing and that parents and students are entitled to seek review of any decision that significantly affects the education, health, or safety of a student.
The district provides a Notice of Appeal form and published guidance on the grounds for provincial appeal, which is more transparency than many districts offer at this stage. The informal complaint pathway, however, receives almost no procedural description — families are expected to resolve concerns at the school level before pursuing a formal appeal, but the steps for doing so are largely unstated.
Common issues covered
- Disciplinary suspension exceeding ten consecutive days
- Suspension from school for a health condition
- Placement in an educational program
- Grade promotion and graduation decisions
- Refusal to offer an educational program to a student aged sixteen or older
- Any other decision the Board considers to significantly affect education, health, or safety
- Concerns about the appropriateness of a learning resource used in the district
Step-by-step process
Step 1: Raise the concern directly Concerns should first be discussed with the staff member most closely connected to the issue, typically the classroom teacher. The district provides minimal guidance on this step.
Step 2: Escalate to the principal If unresolved, the concern may be brought to the school principal. For learning resource challenges specifically, concerns must first be addressed and resolved, if possible, at the school level with the teacher and principal before a formal Resource Challenge Form is submitted.
Step 3: Submit a written Notice of Appeal to the Board If the concern remains unresolved and involves a decision that significantly affects a student’s education, health, or safety, the parent or student may file a formal appeal. The written Notice of Appeal must be addressed to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board and filed within 30 calendar days of the date the student or parent was informed of the decision. A failure to make a decision may also be treated as a decision for the purpose of an appeal.
The Notice of Appeal must include: the name, address, and telephone number of the student and/or guardian; the current placement of the student (school, grade, and homeroom teachers); the decision being appealed and the date it was communicated; the name of the employee who made the decision; and the grounds for the appeal and the relief sought.
Step 4: Board review and hearing Once the appeal is filed, the Notice is delivered to the Board Chair, who must direct the Superintendent or designate within seven days to gather information and prepare an Appeal Report. The Appeal Report must be completed and delivered to the Board within 30 calendar days, with copies provided to the appellant and the employee. The Board must then, within a further 30 calendar days, provide an opportunity for the appellant and the employee to meet with the Board, and render a decision. Both the appellant and the employee have the right to present submissions, and the Board may question those appearing before it. The Board’s decision is reported in writing to the appellant and the employee.
Step 5: Provincial appeal to the Superintendent of Achievement A final decision of the Board under section 11.1(6) of the School Act may be appealed to a Superintendent of Achievement as a new hearing. Provincial appeals are restricted to decisions that significantly affect the education, health, and safety of a student and fall within specific regulatory criteria, including expulsions and suspensions, disciplinary distributed learning measures, failure to provide an IEP, failure to consult on placement or IEP preparation for a student with special needs, bullying and harassment complaints, and exclusion due to health risks. The Superintendent of Achievement may refer the matter to a mediator or adjudicator, or summarily dismiss all or part of the appeal, and the decision is final and binding.
Importantly, even if the Board dismisses an appeal on the grounds that it does not fall under section 11, the Superintendent of Achievement may still decide the appeal can proceed.
Grounds for refusal
The Board may refuse in writing to deal with or hear an appeal where the timelines have been unnecessarily extended, where the applicant refuses to first discuss the decision with the person directed by the Superintendent, or where the Board determines the decision does not significantly affect the education, health, or safety of the student.
Resource allocation restriction
There is a general restriction that an appeal will not be heard respecting allocation of resources to a student’s education program, except to the extent that the appeal relates to the application of the Board’s hardship policies.
Timelines
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Filing the Notice of Appeal | Within 30 calendar days of the decision |
| Board Chair directs Appeal Report | Within 7 days of receiving the appeal |
| Appeal Report completed | Within 30 calendar days |
| Board hearing and decision | Within 30 calendar days of receiving the report |
| Provincial appeal | No district-level timeline specified |
All timelines within the bylaw may be adjusted with the mutual consent of all parties involved.
Guiding principles
- Parents and students are entitled to seek review of any decision that significantly affects education, health, or safety.
- A failure to make a decision may be treated as a decision for the purpose of an appeal.
- A designated advocate appointed by the parent or student may bring the appeal.
- The Board’s decision is reported promptly in writing.
- Both the appellant and the employee receive copies of the Appeal Report and have the right to present submissions.
- An appeal to the Superintendent of Achievement does not suspend the operation of the decision under appeal, unless the Superintendent otherwise orders.
Official district source
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flowchart TD
A([Concern arises]) --> B[Step 1: Discuss with the staff member involved]
B --> C{Resolved?}
C -- Yes --> Z([Matter resolved])
C -- No --> D[Step 2: Escalate to the principal]
D --> E{Resolved?}
E -- Yes --> Z
E -- No --> F[Step 3: Submit written Notice of Appeal<br/>to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Board<br/>within 30 calendar days of the decision]
F --> G[Notice must include:<br/>student name, address, phone<br/>current placement and school<br/>decision appealed and date communicated<br/>employee who made the decision<br/>grounds for appeal and relief sought]
G --> H{Board reviews eligibility}
H -- Board may refuse if --> I([Appeal refused in writing<br/>timelines unnecessarily extended, or<br/>applicant refused prior discussion, or<br/>decision does not significantly affect<br/>education, health, or safety])
H -- Appeal proceeds --> J[Notice delivered to Board Chair<br/>Chair directs Superintendent within 7 days<br/>to prepare an Appeal Report]
J --> K[Appeal Report completed and delivered<br/>to the Board within 30 calendar days<br/>copies provided to appellant and employee]
K --> L[Board hearing within 30 calendar days<br/>appellant and employee may present submissions<br/>Board may question those appearing]
L --> M[Board issues written decision<br/>reported promptly to appellant and employee]
M --> N{Satisfied with Board decision?}
N -- Yes --> Z
N -- No --> O{Does the decision fall within<br/>scope of the Regulation?}
O -- Yes --> P[Provincial appeal to the<br/>Superintendent of Achievement<br/>as a new hearing under s. 11.1]
O -- No --> Q([Appeal outside scope<br/>Superintendent of Achievement<br/>may still decide the appeal can proceed])
P --> R{Superintendent of Achievement<br/>receives the appeal}
R --> S[May refer to mediator or adjudicator<br/>or summarily dismiss all or part]
S --> T([Decision is final and binding])
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