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School District 33 Chilliwack
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Continuing Ed SD 33, Strathcona Elementary, Chilliwack Middle School, Sardis Elementary, Chilliwack Central Elementary Community, Cultus Lake Swílhcha Community School, East Chilliwack Elementary, Vedder Elementary, Chilliwack Secondary, Cheam Elementary, Yarrow Community School, Little Mountain Elementary, Watson Elementary, Sardis Secondary, Bernard Elementary, Rosedale Traditional Community, Robertson Elementary, McCammon Elementary, Unsworth Elementary, Leary Integrated Arts & Technology, A D Rundle Middle School, Vedder Middle School, Tyson Elementary, Mount Slesse Middle School, Evans Elementary, Promontory Heights Community Elementary, Greendale Elementary, GW Graham Secondary, Imagine High Integrated Arts/Technology, Stitó:s Lá:lém Totí:lt, Fraser Valley Distance Education, Kw’íyeqel Secondary
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 SD33 expects parents, students, and community members to raise concerns or pursue formal appeals. The district provides an informal resolution pathway through Policy 390 – Resolving Concerns and the Communication – Home and School page, followed by a formal appeal process governed by Bylaw 4 – Appeal Procedure under section 11 of the School Act. Bylaw 4 is one of the more detailed and procedurally transparent appeal bylaws among BC school districts.
How the district frames complaints
SD33 frames complaint resolution as a communication process between home and school, stating that open, direct communication helps resolve concerns. The district’s Communication – Home and School page positions concern resolution under a broader relationship-building framework that includes parent-teacher conferences, PAC involvement, and DPAC engagement. Policy 390 – Resolving Concerns provides the formal escalation ladder, and Bylaw 4 embeds its own pre-appeal dispute resolution steps with one-week response timelines at each level — an unusual level of specificity in the informal phase.
The formal appeal process under Bylaw 4 is grounded in explicit fairness principles including the right to be heard, the right to adequate notice and timely receipt of relevant information, the right to reasons for decisions, an impartial decision maker, a respectful process free from retaliation, and confidentiality throughout. The bylaw also provides that the district will assist families with preparing an appeal if requested, and can provide the services of an uninvolved staff member as a navigator and/or interpretive services — provisions that are rare among BC districts.
Common issues covered
Policy 390 applies to concerns related to an employee’s action or decision, an educational program, a procedure, or a learning resource. Bylaw 4 provides an expansive, non-exhaustive list of decisions that may be appealed, including: disciplinary suspension from school, suspension from an educational program where no other program is provided, expulsion from an educational program, refusal to offer an educational program to a student aged sixteen or older, requirement to complete a program by distributed learning as a disciplinary measure, exclusion from school for a health condition, failure to provide an IEP to a student with special needs, failure to consult with a parent regarding the placement or IEP of a student with special needs, denial of an educational program by failure to act on a complaint of bullying, intimidation, harassment, racism, or threat or use of weapons or violence, and any other decision that in the Board’s opinion significantly affects education, health, or safety.
Step-by-step process
Step 1: Raise the concern with the employee The first person to talk with is the classroom teacher or the employee who made the decision. Under Bylaw 4’s pre-appeal steps, the employee will review the information and inform the parent of their decision within one week.
Step 2: Escalate to the principal If the concern remains unresolved, it may be brought to the school principal (or responsible administrator if the decision was made at the district level). The principal or administrator will review the information and make a decision within one week. The decision at this stage must be provided in writing, with reasons, along with a copy of Bylaw 4.
Step 3: Escalate to the assistant superintendent If still unresolved, the concern may be referred to the assistant superintendent responsible for the school.
Step 4: Escalate to the superintendent If the assistant superintendent cannot resolve the matter, it proceeds to the Superintendent of Schools or administrator(s) appointed by the Superintendent. The Superintendent will review and make a decision within one week. Decisions made by employees that do not significantly affect the student’s education, health, or safety are within the final authority of the Superintendent.
Step 5: File a formal appeal to the Board of Education If a decision significantly affects a student’s education, health, or safety and remains unresolved, the family may appeal to the Board under Bylaw 4. However, an appellant may file a formal appeal at any point in the process — the pre-appeal steps are encouraged, not mandatory.
The appeal is commenced by filing a written Notice of Appeal with the Secretary-Treasurer within 30 days of the date the appellant was informed of the final decision. The Board may extend this deadline if the appellant demonstrates reasonable grounds. The Notice must include: the appellant’s name, address, email, and phone number, including the student’s name, school, and grade level; a description of the decision being appealed and its effect on the student; the name of the employee who made the decision; the date the appellant was informed; the grounds for the appeal and the action requested; and the steps the appellant has already taken to discuss the matter. An appeal form is available but is not mandatory, provided the required information is included.
Step 6: Pre-hearing procedure Upon receipt, the Secretary-Treasurer reviews the appeal for compliance. If the Secretary-Treasurer identifies a preliminary issue (such as timeliness or whether the decision significantly affects education, health, or safety), it is referred to the Board for determination. The Board will make a preliminary decision within 10 working days. The Board’s preliminary decision not to hear an appeal is final, but the Board must provide reasons and information about the next level of appeal. If no preliminary issue exists, arrangements proceed for the hearing. The Superintendent provides a report to the Board, with copies to the appellant and the employee.
Upon receipt of the appeal, the appellant is provided with details regarding confidentiality and information-sharing, how the appeal will be conducted, how and to whom submissions can be made and a main neutral contact person, who will conduct the review and how the district ensures an unbiased decision maker, and any time limits within the appeal process.
Step 7: Board hearing and decision The Board may hold an oral hearing and/or decide the appeal on written submissions. Oral hearings are held in camera. The appellant may present medical, psychological, and educational data and may call witnesses. The Superintendent explains the decision and responds to the appellant’s information, and the appellant has an opportunity to respond. Trustees may ask questions, but cross-examination is not permitted. The appellant may be accompanied by an advocate, support person, and/or interpreter. The Board may adjourn for additional information, and if it requires further material, both parties return for the hearing. Notes of proceedings (excluding deliberations) are recorded. The Board must make a decision within 45 days of receiving the appeal, and must provide written reasons within five days of the conclusion of the hearing.
Step 8: Provincial appeal An appellant may appeal a decision of the Board to the Student Appeals Branch of the Ministry of Education (Superintendent of Achievement).
Grounds for refusal
The Board may refuse to hear an appeal where it was not filed within a reasonable time, where the appellant has not first discussed the decision with persons identified by the Board, or where the Board determines the decision does not significantly affect education, health, or safety, including school placement.
Timelines
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Employee response (pre-appeal step 1) | Within one week |
| Principal response (pre-appeal step 2) | Within one week |
| Superintendent response (pre-appeal step 3) | Within one week |
| Filing the Notice of Appeal | Within 30 days of the final decision (extendable) |
| Board preliminary decision | Within 10 working days of receipt |
| Board final decision | Within 45 days of receiving the appeal |
| Written reasons for the Board’s decision | Within 5 days of the conclusion of the hearing |
Guiding principles
- The appeal process is grounded in fairness principles including the right to be heard, adequate notice, reasons for decisions, an impartial decision maker, freedom from retaliation, and confidentiality.
- A failure to make a decision may be treated as a decision for the purpose of an appeal.
- An appellant may file a formal appeal at any point in the process; pre-appeal steps are encouraged, not mandatory.
- The district will provide assistance with preparing an appeal if requested.
- The district can provide an uninvolved staff member as a navigator and/or interpretive services.
- The appellant is provided with clear information upon receipt of the appeal, including how the review will be conducted and who will conduct it.
- The appellant may be accompanied by an advocate, support person, and/or interpreter.
- Medical, psychological, and educational data may be presented, including through witnesses.
Official district sources
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flowchart TD
A([Concern arises]) --> B[Step 1: Discuss with the employee who made the decision<br/>employee responds within one week]
B --> C{Resolved?}
C -- Yes --> Z([Matter resolved])
C -- No --> D[Step 2: Escalate to the principal<br/>or responsible administrator<br/>decision within one week<br/>written reasons and copy of Bylaw 4 provided]
D --> E{Resolved?}
E -- Yes --> Z
E -- No --> F[Step 3: Escalate to the assistant superintendent<br/>responsible for the school]
F --> G{Resolved?}
G -- Yes --> Z
G -- No --> H[Step 4: Escalate to the Superintendent<br/>decision within one week]
H --> I{Resolved?}
I -- Yes --> Z
I -- No --> J[Step 5: File written Notice of Appeal<br/>with the Secretary-Treasurer<br/>within 30 days of the final decision<br/>— may file at any point in the process]
J --> K[Notice must include:<br/>appellant name, address, email, phone<br/>student name, school, grade level<br/>decision appealed and effect on student<br/>employee who made the decision<br/>grounds for appeal and action requested<br/>steps already taken to resolve]
K --> L{Secretary-Treasurer reviews compliance<br/>preliminary issue identified?}
L -- Yes --> M[Board makes preliminary decision<br/>within 10 working days]
M -- Appeal refused --> N([Preliminary refusal is final<br/>Board provides reasons and<br/>information about next level of appeal])
M -- Appeal proceeds --> O
L -- No preliminary issue --> O[Superintendent provides report to Board<br/>copies to appellant and employee]
O --> P[Step 6: Board hearing in camera<br/>oral and/or written submissions<br/>appellant may present medical, psychological,<br/>and educational data and call witnesses<br/>appellant may bring advocate, support person,<br/>or interpreter]
P --> Q[Board issues decision within 45 days<br/>written reasons within 5 days of hearing<br/>appellant advised of provincial appeal rights]
Q --> R{Satisfied with Board decision?}
R -- Yes --> Z
R -- No --> S[Step 7: Provincial appeal to the<br/>Student Appeals Branch<br/>Ministry of Education]
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