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Parents and students hold protest at francophone school board office

A large group of parents, children, students and other supporters took part in a peaceful protest on Thursday, in an effort to create awareness and find answers to a situation that's been ongoing at École du Sommet for the past 45 days.
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Students and parents held a peaceful protest on Thursday, walking to the ECFER board office from Ecole du Sommet.

A large group of parents, children, students and other supporters took part in a peaceful protest on Thursday, in an effort to create awareness and find answers to a situation that's been ongoing at École du Sommet for the past 45 days.

In March, parents found out that the school's principal had been "suspended" although that term was later recanted according to parents, and they have since been told the principal is "absent." Parent spokesperson Suzanne Stybel read a statement prior to the protest on Thursday.

The protest saw the large crowd walk from École du Sommet to the East Central Francophone Education Region (ECFER) office, on main street.

"Since day one, we the parents have made it clear that we will respect the legalities of the situation, but still require proper lines of communication while the board investigates this matter," said Stybel. Parents state a lack of communication with the ECFER board as being an ongoing concern, along with the notion that some students were allegedly taken off school property for interviews, without parental consent.

Also in attendance during Thursday's protest was a group of Grade 12 students from École du Sommet. Students were attempting to deliver a petition that had been signed by nearly all of the school's junior high and senior high students.

"We are petitioning to get our principal's job back. . .  we're doing everything in our power to do what's right," said Grade 12 student Nick Tucker. After their first attempt, students said they were told there was no one available at the board office to take the petition.

The board has confirmed that an investigation into the situation is taking place. "We have engaged an independent investigator to establish all the facts related to this matter," read a statement released by the ECFER board on Monday.

On Wednesday, Lac La Biche-St. Paul-Two Hills MLA Dave Hanson brought the matter forward during the oral question period at the legislature, asking the Minister of Education David Eggen to clarify matters. The video can be accessed online at http://assemblyonline.assembly.ab.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20180502/-1/8329 with Hanson speaking at about the 2:31:35 mark.

More to come...


Janice Huser

About the Author: Janice Huser

Janice Huser has been with the St. Paul Journal since 2006. She is a graduate of the SAIT print media journalism program, is originally from St. Paul and has a passion for photography.
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