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School District 34 Abbotsford
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Bakerview Centre for Learning – CE, Mt Lehman Elementary, ASIA – North Poplar, Semá:th Elementary School, Bradner Elementary, South Poplar Traditional Elementary, Clearbrook Elementary, King Traditional Elementary, Alexander Elementary, Abbotsford Senior Secondary School, Barrowtown Elementary, Abbotsford Middle School, Aberdeen Elementary, McMillan Elementary, Godson Elementary, Jackson Elementary, Ross Elementary, Margaret Stenersen Elementary, Auguston Traditional Elementary, Ten Broeck Elementary, Centennial Park Elementary, Yale Secondary, W J Mouat Secondary, William A. Fraser Middle School, Dormick Park Elementary, John Maclure Community School, Dr Thomas A Swift Elementary, Terry Fox Elementary, Chief Dan George Middle, Prince Charles Elementary, Blue Jay Elementary, Sandy Hill Elementary, Harry Sayers Elementary, Rick Hansen Secondary, Mountain Elementary, Robert Bateman Secondary, Dr Roberta Bondar Elementary, Dave Kandal Elementary, Colleen And Gordie Howe Middle School, Eugene Reimer Middle School, Mathxwí Elementary School, Clayburn Middle School, Abbotsford Traditional School, Abbotsford School Of Integrated Arts, Irene Kelleher Totí:ltawtxw, Bakerview Centre for Learning, Abbotsford Virtual School
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 SD34 expects parents, students, and community members to raise concerns or pursue formal appeals. The district provides an informal resolution pathway through its “Communicating with Your School” page, followed by a formal appeal process governed by Board Policy 14 – Appeals Process (Bylaw No. 18, 2008) under section 11 of the School Act.
How the district frames complaints
SD34’s public-facing information is contained on a page titled “Communicating with Your School,” positioned under the Parents & Community section. The process is framed as resolving “issues or concerns” through positive relationships and open communication rather than as a formal complaint pathway. The page advises families to build positive relationships, stay involved, and understand the effective ways to resolve issues — including making an appointment for a focused discussion, communicating clearly, staying calm, listening, keeping focused on what is best for the student, and giving the process a chance at each step before escalating.
The formal appeal process under Bylaw 18 is a separate document located on the Board Policies page. Bylaw 18 also includes an Appendix 1 – Guidelines for Parents, which provides additional guidance for families navigating the appeal process.
Common issues covered
Under Bylaw 18, the following decisions are deemed to significantly affect the education, health, or safety of a student: disciplinary suspension in excess of five days, refusal to offer an educational programme to a student aged sixteen or older, requirement to complete a programme by distributed learning as a disciplinary measure where space and facilities exist in a school, 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 programme by failure to act on a complaint of bullying, intimidation, harassment, or threat or use of weapons or violence, and any other decision the Board considers to significantly affect education, health, or safety. A failure to make a decision may also be treated as a decision for the purpose of an appeal.
Step-by-step process
Step 1: Raise the concern with the staff member The “Communicating with Your School” page directs families to start with the person whose action gave rise to the concern — typically the classroom teacher. This step is described on the public-facing page but is not part of the bylaw’s formal pre-appeal expectations.
Step 2: Escalate to the principal or vice-principal If unresolved, the concern is brought to the school administration. Under the bylaw’s pre-appeal expectations, this is the first formal step: the student or parent discusses the issue with the principal (for school-level decisions) or the responsible administrator (for district-level decisions).
Step 3: Escalate to the assistant superintendent If the concern remains unresolved at the school level, the “Communicating with Your School” page directs families to contact an assistant superintendent at 604-859-4891, ext. 1233. Under the bylaw, the second pre-appeal step is discussion with the Superintendent and/or administrator(s) appointed by the Superintendent.
Step 4: 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 parent or student may appeal in writing to the Board of Education through the Secretary-Treasurer’s office. The appeal must be filed within 30 days of the date the appellant was informed of the decision, though the Board may extend this deadline if the appellant demonstrates reasonable grounds.
The Notice of Appeal must include: the appellant’s name, address, email, and phone number, including the student’s name, school, grade level, and homeroom teacher; 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 already taken to discuss the matter. Where the appellant is a student under the age of nineteen, the Board provides a copy of the notice to the parent(s).
Step 5: Pre-hearing procedure The Secretary-Treasurer reviews the notice and may refer preliminary matters to the Board for determination. If the Secretary-Treasurer identifies no preliminary issue, arrangements proceed for the hearing. The Superintendent provides a report to the Board, and the appellant and the employee are entitled to a copy. The Board may establish a committee of one or more persons who were not involved in the original decision to investigate the appeal and report to the Board. The Board may also require the appellant to discuss the matter with persons directed by the Board, and may provide directions for the hearing.
Step 6: Board hearing and decision The Board may hold an oral hearing and/or decide the appeal on written submissions. Oral hearings are held in closed session. The Board may ask questions of any person appearing. The appellant may be accompanied by an advocate, support person, and/or interpreter or translator. The Board may adjourn to obtain additional information and may make interim decisions. The Board must make a decision within 45 days of receiving the appeal in acceptable form. The Board promptly notifies the appellant, the Superintendent, and the employee, and provides written reasons as soon as practicable.
Step 7: Provincial appeal An appellant may have a right to 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 initiated 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.
Timelines
| Stage | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Filing the Notice of Appeal | Within 30 days of the decision (extendable) |
| Board decision | Within 45 days of receiving the appeal in acceptable form |
| Written reasons | As soon as practicable |
Guiding principles
- Families are entitled to appeal any decision, or failure to make a decision, that significantly affects education, health, or safety.
- The appellant may be accompanied by an advocate, support person, and/or interpreter or translator.
- The Board may establish an investigative committee of persons uninvolved in the original decision.
- The Board may extend the filing deadline if the appellant demonstrates reasonable grounds.
- The appellant and the employee are entitled to a copy of the Superintendent’s report.
Official district sources
- School District 34 Abbotsford – “Communicating with Your School”
- SD34 Board of Education – Policy 14: Appeals Process (Bylaw 18)
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flowchart TD
A([Concern arises]) --> B[Step 1: Discuss with the staff member involved<br/>typically the classroom teacher]
B --> C{Resolved?}
C -- Yes --> Z([Matter resolved])
C -- No --> D[Step 2: Escalate to the principal<br/>or vice-principal]
D --> E{Resolved?}
E -- Yes --> Z
E -- No --> F[Step 3: Escalate to the assistant superintendent<br/>604-859-4891 ext. 1233]
F --> G{Resolved?}
G -- Yes --> Z
G -- No --> H[Step 4: File written Notice of Appeal<br/>to the Secretary-Treasurer<br/>within 30 days of the decision]
H --> I[Notice must include:<br/>appellant name, address, email, phone<br/>student name, school, grade, homeroom teacher<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]
I --> J{Secretary-Treasurer reviews compliance<br/>preliminary issue identified?}
J -- Yes --> K[Board determines preliminary matter<br/>may request written submissions]
K -- Appeal refused --> L([Board refuses to hear the appeal<br/>not timely, prior discussion not completed,<br/>or does not significantly affect<br/>education, health, or safety])
K -- Appeal proceeds --> M
J -- No preliminary issue --> M[Superintendent provides report to Board<br/>copies to appellant and employee<br/>Board may establish investigative committee]
M --> N[Step 5: Board hearing in closed session<br/>oral and/or written submissions<br/>Board may ask questions<br/>appellant may bring advocate,<br/>support person, or interpreter]
N --> O[Board issues decision within 45 days<br/>written reasons as soon as practicable<br/>appellant advised of provincial appeal rights]
O --> P{Satisfied with Board decision?}
P -- Yes --> Z
P -- No --> Q[Step 6: Provincial appeal to the<br/>Student Appeals Branch<br/>Ministry of Education]
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