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School District 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith

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Continuing Ed SD 68, Nanaimo District Secondary, Ladysmith Secondary, Cedar Secondary, Cedar Elementary, Dover Bay Secondary, John Barsby Secondary, Wellington Secondary, Bayview Elementary, Brechin Elementary, Chase River Elementary, Cilaire Elementary, Departure Bay Elementary, Fairview Elementary, Forest Park Elementary, Frank J. Ney Elementary, Gabriola Elementary, Georgia Avenue Elementary, Hammond Bay Elementary, Ladysmith Intermediate, Ladysmith Primary, Mountain View Elementary, McGirr Elementary, North Oyster Elementary, Park Avenue Elementary, Pauline Haarer Elementary, Pleasant Valley Elementary, Qwam Qwum Stuwixwulh Community School, Quarterway Elementary, Randerson Ridge Elementary, Rock City Elementary, Seaview Elementary, Uplands Park Elementary, Cinnabar Valley Elementary, Syuẁén’ct Elementary School, Learning Alternatives, Career Technical Centre, Island Connected K-12

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 School District 68 Nanaimo-Ladysmith expects parents, students, and community members to raise concerns or pursue formal appeals.

How the district frames complaints

SD68 states that education should be transparent and responsive to student needs. The district provides an administrative procedure for raising complaints in a “transparent, responsive, safe and respectful manner.”

The process is structured as a mandatory escalation ladder. Complaints raised outside this structure are redirected back into it.

Step-by-step

Informal complaint process

Step 1: Staff member
Parents must first take the concern directly to the staff member and discuss the action, policy, procedure, or practice at issue.
If uncomfortable doing so, the parent may request a meeting directly with the principal.
Step 2: Principal
If unresolved, the parent requests a meeting with the principal.
The principal determines whether the staff member will attend.
Step 3: Director of Instruction or Assistant Superintendent
If still unresolved, the parent may request a meeting with the appropriate Director of Instruction or Assistant Superintendent.
That district administrator determines whether the principal will attend.

Important features of 502.1AP

Complaints made directly to the Superintendent or Board are redirected to follow this procedure.
Complaints that may result in employee discipline are handled under collective agreement processes and are not governed by this Administrative Procedure.
The procedure does not outline timelines, written response requirements, or documentation standards.

Formal appeal process

If a decision of a district employee significantly affects the education, health, or safety of a student, a parent or student may file a formal appeal to the Board of Education under section 11 of the School Act.

The Appeal Bylaw provides for:

A written Notice of Appeal submitted to the Board (via the Secretary-Treasurer).
Review of the decision at the Board level.
The possibility of a hearing or written submissions.
A written Board decision.

The Board may refuse to hear an appeal if it does not meet statutory criteria (e.g., does not significantly affect the student, is out of time, or prior steps were not attempted).

If unresolved at the Board level and eligible under section 11.1 of the School Act, a further appeal may be made to the provincial Superintendent of Achievement.

Complete escalation pathway

Step 1: Staff member
Step 2: Principal
Step 3: Director of Instruction / Assistant Superintendent
Step 4: Board of Education appeal
Step 5: Provincial appeal to Superintendent of Achievement

Structural observations

The informal process is clearly sequenced and mandatory.
The district retains control over participation in meetings at each level.
Formal appeal rights are governed separately under the Appeal Bylaw.
The parent-facing materials do not provide a single, plain-language page combining both informal and formal processes.

Official district sources

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flowchart TD
    A([Concern arises]) --> B[Step 1: Discuss with staff member<br/>or request meeting with principal]
    B --> C{Resolved?}

    C -- Yes --> Z([Matter resolved])
    C -- No --> D[Step 2: Meet with principal<br/>principal determines participation]
    D --> E{Resolved?}

    E -- Yes --> Z
    E -- No --> F[Step 3: Meet with Director of Instruction or Assistant Superintendent<br/>district determines participation]
    F --> G{Resolved?}

    G -- Yes --> Z
    G -- No --> H[Step 4: Formal appeal if decision significantly affects education, health, or safety]

    H --> I[Submit written Notice of Appeal to Board via Secretary-Treasurer]
    I --> J[Board reviews appeal and may hold hearing or accept written submissions]
    J --> K{Appeal accepted?}

    K -- No --> L[Board refuses to hear appeal<br/>process ends]
    L --> M([Process ends])

    K -- Yes --> N[Board considers submissions and evidence]
    N --> O[Board issues written decision]

    O --> P{Satisfied with Board decision?}
    P -- Yes --> Z
    P -- No --> Q[Step 5: Provincial appeal to Superintendent of Achievement]

    Q --> R([Process continues at provincial level])

Feedback

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