by Ian Elliot
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 14/97) - A group of parents is continuing to demand that the Yellowknife public school board address its concerns about child-abuse reporting.

At its inaugural meeting Tuesday night, the new board turned down the request to have a meeting with the four to discuss their concerns about the issue.

A motion by newly-elected trustee Bob Patterson to have a closed-door meeting with the four parents was also lifted from the table after a closed-door discussion.

Instead, the parents will be offered a meeting with board chairman Terry Brookes, superintendent Ken Woodley and another trustee.

Group spokesperson Laurie Sarkadi said the meeting is better than nothing, but "we would prefer to speak to the entire board."

If the parents' concerns are not alleviated at that meeting, the group will be offered a chance to address the school board's December meeting. However, that will be a public session and Sarkadi said it would be difficult to discuss the matter at a public session due to the nature of the concern.

The parents have been asking the board for reassurances that its reporting policy on abuse was being followed since appearing before the previous board in early September.

Their concerns stem from an incident in a Yellowknife school that was investigated by RCMP members who decided no charges were warranted.

The parents' request for a private meeting with the board was turned down earlier this month. The four attended the board meeting Tuesday, when their request to appear as a delegation was also turned down by the seven trustees.

Board members would have had to vote unanimously in favor to put them on the agenda, but only three of the seven trustees did.

The parents say they are concerned that allegations of abuse within the schools are not always handled properly.

Under the Child Welfare Act, anyone aware of sexual abuse has to report it to the superintendent of child welfare, which is part of the Department of Health and Social Services. Under the board's own protocol, a report also goes to its special services department.

The parents want to make sure the procedure is followed, and cannot be altered by board staff.

"We want reassurances that teachers and staff feel comfortable reporting abuse," she said.

Woodley said the meeting between parents and three school officials was the way the board policy required such situations be dealt with, and if the parents still had concerns, the matter would move on to be considered by the entire board.

"It's a question of protocol," he said.