By Greg Fry

Name change

SD57 Board of Education approve motion to change name of Kelly Road Secondary School

Feb 26, 2020 | 8:37 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Update: In a statement issued late this afternoon (4:42 p.m.), School District 57 issued a statement from Board Chair Tim Bennett noting the “passion and school spirit” expressed today in opposition to last night’s motion.

“We need to be clear that the motion carried at the February 25, 2020 Regular Public Board Meeting was to engage in the process of a new name, and the Board of Education is committed to doing so before the school opening in September 2020,” the statement reads.

“Given our enthusiasm for the new direction, we acknowledge that we failed to fully engage the community connected to Kelly Road school.”

He says in the weeks ahead, the Board will be outlining a series of opportunities for community engagement regarding this project.

Bennett added that although the Board understands the emotional connection parents, students and alumni have towards the school, “offensive and disrespectful language will not be tolerated at our school or on SD57 online platforms.

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He also noted that comments made at home, at school and online can have a deep impact on our students’ well-being.

If you have any feedback on the renaming process, you are invited to send emails to: kellyroadfeedback@sd57.bc.ca.

Earlier: The Prince George School District’s Board of Education approved a motion last night (Feb.25) to start the renaming process of Kelly Road Secondary School to Shas Ti Secondary School.

Board Chair Tim Bennett says Shas Ti means grizzly path in the Dakelh language noting the current Kelly Road Secondary School sits on a grizzly path.

“Our Indigenous Education Committee worked with the Lheidli T’enneh and the board and felt this was a good representation to highlight where the new school will be situated,” he says.

He admitted there was no public consultation and said the new name came from a request from the Lheidli T’enneh and the Indigenous Education Committee.

“As a board we know this decision won’t sit well with the some community members and we recognized and discussed this at the table,” said Bennett.

“It’s a committment towards reconciliation and Kelly Road is not going to be disappearing. You’re going to see references to Kelly Road throughout the building. The transition from Kelly Road to Shas Ti is not going to happen in the blink of an eye come September. You’re going to see it highlighted throughout the building. We have a history to honour.”

The new Kelly Road Secondary School remains under construction and is set to open in September.

As of 9:30 a.m. this morning (Feb.26), a petition opposed to the name change had over 2,500 signatures.