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School District 28 Quesnel
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Wells Barkerville Elementary, Quesnel Junior School, Kersley Elementary School, Ecole Red Bluff Lhtako Elementary, Bouchie Lake Elementary School, Dragon Lake Elementary, Carson Elementary School, Lakeview Elementary, Correlieu Secondary School, Voyageur Elementary School, Parkland Elementary, Riverview Elementary, Barlow Creek Elementary, Nazko Valley Elementary, Mcnaughton Centre, Quesnel Online Learning
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 SD28 expects parents, students, and community members to raise concerns or complaints. It covers the district’s Communication Protocol (Procedures 118), which the district describes as “the steps to resolving conflict,” and the formal appeal process governed by Bylaw No. 1 (2007) under section 11 of the School Act.
How the district frames complaints
SD28 frames its complaint process as a “communication protocol,” positioning it under the “Communicating with Schools” section of its family resources page. The district presents the protocol as “the steps to resolving conflict,” and the detailed procedure is contained in Procedures 118, Appendix 1 and 2, which is hosted as a PDF through the district’s CivicWeb policy portal. The Communication Protocol was developed by the School Board in partnership with the QDPAC, QDTA, QPVPA, CUPE Local 4990, and district administration, and the district states that it is reviewed from time to time.
The district emphasises resolving concerns at the school level or the level closest to the concern, and expects that every attempt will be made to do so before escalation. Families are encouraged to bring a support person to meetings, to focus on the student’s needs, and to build action plans with dates and follow-up. The protocol also identifies sources of assistance including school staff, district office staff, PAC chairpersons, and school trustees.
Common issues covered
- School staff behaviour or decision-making
- Student safety, discipline, or code-of-conduct matters
- Programs, services, and supports
- School or district policies and procedures
- Bullying (the district maintains a dedicated bullying resources page)
Under Bylaw No. 1, the following decisions are deemed to significantly affect the education, health, or safety of a student: disciplinary suspension for six or more consecutive days, suspension for a health condition, placement in an educational program, grade promotion and graduation, refusal to offer an educational program to a student aged sixteen or older, and any other decision the Board considers to significantly affect a student.
Step-by-step process
Step 1: Raise the concern directly Begin at the school level between the concerned parties. The Communication Protocol advises families to focus on the student’s needs, define the real issue, make an appointment with the person involved at a mutually satisfactory date and time, prepare notes, bring a support person if desired (informing the other party), respectfully address the concern, explore possible options together, and set up an action plan with times, dates, and follow-up.
Step 2: Escalate to the principal If the concern remains unresolved, or the action plan is unsuccessful, seek assistance from the principal after informing the other party of the intent to do so. If the concern is about the principal, contact a Director of Instruction or the Superintendent of Schools.
Step 3: District-level review If the principal-level process does not resolve the matter, contact the district office (250-992-8802) or a Director of Instruction or the Superintendent of Schools for assistance or support.
Step 4: Board of Education — formal appeal If the issue remains unresolved after accessing assistance from the Superintendent, families may contact the School Board using the appeal process under Bylaw No. 1, by calling the Secretary-Treasurer at 250-992-8802.
The appeal is commenced by filing a written Notice of Appeal at the office of the Secretary-Treasurer. The Notice must include: the name and address of the student and/or parent bringing the appeal, including telephone contact numbers; the current placement of the student in the school; the decision being appealed and the date it was transmitted; the name of the Board employee who made the decision; and the grounds for the appeal and the relief sought. A failure to make a decision may also be treated as a decision for the purpose of an appeal.
Step 5: Pre-hearing discussion and report Upon receipt of the Notice of Appeal, the Board or designate may direct the appellant to discuss the decision with the school principal, teachers, support workers, and a member of district administrative staff. The principal provides a report on this discussion to the Superintendent, with copies to the appellant. Where a student has initiated the appeal, the parent or guardian is notified. If the discussion does not resolve the appeal, the Superintendent or designate prepares a report for the Board, with copies to the appellant, the employee, and the principal. All parties may provide the Board with written comment on the Superintendent’s report.
Step 6: Board review and decision The Board invites written submissions from the appellant and may decide the appeal on written submissions alone. The Board may also invite oral submissions, in which case it sets a time, date, and place and gives notice by double registered mail. The Board may establish a committee to investigate matters pertaining to the appeal, and may appoint trustees, senior officials, principals, teachers, or any other person it considers appropriate to serve on the committee. All parties have the opportunity to respond to any information not previously communicated to them. The Board may make interim decisions pending final disposition. The Board’s decision is issued in writing within 45 days of receiving the appeal, and copies are forwarded to the appellant, the principal, and the employee.
Step 7: Provincial appeal to the Superintendent of Achievement A decision of the Board under section 11(6) of the School Act may be appealed to a Superintendent of Achievement as a new hearing. The appeal does not suspend the operation of the decision unless the Superintendent of Achievement otherwise orders. The decision of the Superintendent of Achievement or of an adjudicator is final and binding.
Grounds for refusal
The Board may refuse to hear an oral submission where the appeal was not commenced within a reasonable time, where the appellant has refused or neglected to discuss the decision with the person directed by the Board, or where the Board determines the decision does not significantly affect the education, health, or safety of the student. However, the Board may consider an appeal despite any defect in form or other technical irregularity.
Timelines
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Filing the Notice of Appeal | Within a “reasonable time” (no specific deadline stated) |
| Board decision | Within 45 days of receiving the appeal |
| Notice of oral hearing | By double registered mail |
Guiding principles
- Families are entitled to appeal any decision, or failure to make a decision, that significantly affects the education, health, or safety of a student.
- The Board may consider an appeal despite defects in form or technical irregularities.
- All parties may comment in writing on the Superintendent’s report.
- The Board may establish an investigative committee with broad composition.
- The Board may make interim decisions pending the final disposition of the appeal.
- Families may bring a support person to meetings at any stage of the process
Official district source
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flowchart TD
A([Concern arises]) --> B[Step 1: Discuss directly with the person involved<br/>prepare notes, bring a support person if desired<br/>build an action plan with dates and follow-up]
B --> C{Resolved?}
C -- Yes --> Z([Matter resolved])
C -- No --> D[Step 2: Escalate to the principal<br/>inform the other party of intent to escalate]
D --> E{Resolved?}
E -- Yes --> Z
E -- No --> F[Step 3: Contact Director of Instruction<br/>or the Superintendent of Schools]
F --> G{Resolved?}
G -- Yes --> Z
G -- No --> H[Step 4: File written Notice of Appeal<br/>with the Secretary-Treasurer<br/>within a reasonable time of the decision]
H --> I[Notice must include:<br/>student name, address, phone<br/>current placement in the school<br/>decision appealed and date communicated<br/>employee who made the decision<br/>grounds for appeal and relief sought]
I --> J[Board may direct appellant to discuss<br/>with principal, teachers, support workers,<br/>and district administrative staff<br/>principal reports to Superintendent]
J --> K{Discussion resolves the appeal?}
K -- Yes --> Z
K -- No --> L[Superintendent prepares report for the Board<br/>copies to appellant, employee, and principal<br/>all parties may comment in writing]
L --> M{Board reviews eligibility}
M -- Board may refuse if --> N([Oral submission refused<br/>appeal not commenced in reasonable time, or<br/>appellant refused prior discussion, or<br/>decision does not significantly affect<br/>education, health, or safety])
M -- Appeal proceeds --> O[Step 5: Board invites written submissions<br/>may also invite oral submissions<br/>notice of oral hearing by double registered mail<br/>Board may establish investigative committee]
O --> P[Board issues written decision<br/>within 45 days of receiving the appeal<br/>copies to appellant, principal, and employee]
P --> Q{Satisfied with Board decision?}
Q -- Yes --> Z
Q -- No --> R[Step 6: Provincial appeal to the<br/>Superintendent of Achievement<br/>as a new hearing under s. 11]
R --> S([Decision is final and binding])
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