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By Caden Fanshaw

SD 57

‘They need help’: Longtime trustee speaks out as tension continues to build in SD57

Mar 29, 2023 | 4:33 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – As fallout continues from School District 57 stakeholders and community members, a longtime SD57 trustee is speaking out.

“A dysfunctional board can do a lot of damage,” said former trustee Sharel Warrington. “They need help, they definitely need help and they need to recognize that they need to reach out for help.”

Warrington said she could not stand by any longer and felt the need to speak up. The 17-year school trustee said her breaking point came when trustees Betty Bekkering and Gillian Burnett resigned over the dismissal of Superintendent Cindy Heitman.

The longtime educator called the decision “the wrong move.”

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Warrington summed up her thoughts by citing that recent decisions have only sparked more questions than before.

“Trustees need to understand the damage that can result when decisions are made that interfere, undermine or create a climate of uncertainty around the management and operation of the district.”

Recruitment and retention in SD57 will take a massive hit going forward according to Warrington who hopes BC’s Ministry of Education is watching closely. Since Warrington retired from her elected seat, she has attended as many public committee meetings and regular board meetings as a community member.

CKPG News reached out to SD57 Board Chair Rachael Weber once again Wednesday, in an email statement Weber said “thank you for reaching out. When the Board has another statement to release, we will make sure everyone is notified.”