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School District 93 Conseil scolaire francophone
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Secondaire de Nelson, des Sept-sommets, Entre-lacs, Secondaire de Revelstoke, de l’Anse-au-sable, Collines-d’or, La Verendrye, des Voyageurs, du Bois-joli, des Navigateurs, Rose-des-vents, Anne-Hebert, des Colibris, Norval-Morrisseau, des Pionniers-de-Maillardville, Andre-Piolat, du Pacifique, Secondaire Chatelech, Cote-du-Soleil, Secondaire Brooks, Les Aiglons, La Passerelle, La Vallee, Secondaire Duchess-Park, Franco-Nord, Beausoleil, Victor-Brodeur, Secondaire de Nanaimo, Oceane, des Grands-cedres, Secondaire Carihi, Mer-et-montagne, Secondaire de Kamloops, des Deux-Rives, Des Cascades, des Cinq-saumons, Gabrielle-Roy, des Sentiers-alpins, Secondaire de Penticton, Secondaire Jules-Verne, École Au coeur de l’île, des Glaciers, Sophie-Morigeau, Les Melezes-dores, La Confluence, La Grande-Ourse, Virtuelle
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 SD93 expects parents, students, and community members to raise concerns or complaints, from initial discussions through to formal Board appeal. It covers both informal resolution and the formal appeal process under Section 11 of the School Act, as set out in the district’s published appeals procedure.
I am not a French speaker, so please please submit feedback, if what I’ve written is incorrect.
How the district frames complaints
SD93 frames complaints as issues to be resolved through respectful communication and collaborative problem-solving. The district emphasises addressing concerns at the source — beginning with the staff member involved — and escalating only if necessary.
At the same time, the district explicitly recognises a right to appeal decisions that significantly affect a student’s education, health, or safety. The formal appeals procedure is more detailed than in many districts, with defined steps and timelines.
What the district tells parents
Step 1: Staff member
Parents or students are expected to first meet with the staff member involved and identify the concern as an appeal under Section 11. The employee is given time (typically 7 days) to reconsider the decision.
Step 2: Principal or supervisor
If unresolved, the concern is escalated to the principal or supervisor. The issue is reviewed again, and a further response is provided, generally within another defined timeframe.
Step 3: District administration
If still unresolved, the matter is referred to district administration or the Board office. At this stage, the issue transitions toward formal appeal consideration.
Step 4: Board of Education appeal
A formal appeal is initiated by submitting a written Notice of Appeal, including documentation of prior steps. An Appeals Committee reviews the case and may hold a hearing.
The Board then issues a written decision, typically within 45 days.
Step 5: Provincial appeal
If unresolved, a further appeal may be made to the Superintendent of Achievement under Section 11.1 of the School Act.
What the district does not tell parents
- Language accessibility: The full appeals procedure is primarily published in French, with limited English parent-facing guidance.
- Right to an advocate: The policy does not clearly state whether parents may bring a support person or advocate, even though this is often permitted in practice.
- External complaint options: The district materials do not reference the BC Human Rights Tribunal, Ombudsperson, or Teacher Regulation Branch.
- Practical barriers: While timelines exist, the process requires parents to formally identify the issue as an appeal early and document each stage, which may not be obvious to families.
- Threshold interpretation: The Board retains discretion over whether a matter “significantly affects” a student, which determines whether an appeal proceeds.
Common issues covered
Appeals under SD93’s policy generally include decisions that significantly affect a student’s education, health, or safety, such as:
- Long-term suspensions or expulsions
- Program placement or denial of enrolment
- Special education assessment or IEP disputes
- Bullying, harassment, or safety-related decisions
- Academic progression or graduation decisions
- Other decisions deemed significant by the Board
Step-by-step process
- Raise the concern with the staff member involved
- Escalate to the principal or supervisor
- Escalate to district administration / Board office
- Submit a written Notice of Appeal (Section 11)
- Board of Education review and decision
- If eligible, appeal to the Superintendent of Achievement (Section 11.1)
Guiding principles
- Concerns should be addressed at the source whenever possible
- Informal resolution steps are required before a formal appeal
- Appeals must follow a structured, documented process
- The Board provides a written decision within defined timelines
- Appeals apply only to decisions with significant impact
Official district sources
- Fédération des parents francophones de la Colombie-Britannique – Conflict Resolution
- Communications policy B-200-8
- Procédure et processus d’appel (CSF Policy B‑200‑13) – Appeals procedure under School Act s.11 (French)
Note on language: I am not a French speaker, and some SD93 policies are only available in French. This summary reflects my best understanding of those documents. If you see anything that needs correction or clarification, I would really appreciate your feedback.
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flowchart TD
A[Concern arises] --> B[Raise with staff member and identify as appeal]
B --> C{Resolved within review period?}
C -- Yes --> Z[Process ends]
C -- No --> D[Escalate to principal or supervisor]
D --> E{Resolved?}
E -- Yes --> Z
E -- No --> F[Escalate to district administration]
F --> G{Resolved?}
G -- Yes --> Z
G -- No --> H[Submit written Notice of Appeal with documentation]
H --> I[Appeals Committee reviews case]
I --> J[Hearing may be held]
J --> K[Board deliberates and issues written decision within timeline]
K --> L{Satisfied?}
L -- Yes --> Z
L -- No --> M[Appeal to Superintendent of Achievement]
Feedback
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