FORT SIMPSON - Some parents in Fort Simpson are concerned with a recent decision about the kindergarten program at Bompas elementary school and the way in which it was made.

Dawson Somerville is one of the parents in Fort Simpson who is questioning the way the District Education Authority decided to make kindergarten at Bompas elementary school a full day program. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

The Fort Simpson District Education Authority (DEA) has spent over a year examining if the current half-day kindergarten program should be made into a full day program. At a DEA meeting on April 10 the council voted to make the change.

Parents like Dawson Somerville who were at the meeting disagree with the way the decision was made.

At the meeting, Somerville said he asked the two questions he was concerned about. The first question was when the vote would be held. Martina Norwegian, the chair of the association, said it would take place in June, said Somerville.

Somerville also asked if the association's decision would reflect the input from the public. Somerville said Norwegian assured him the vote would follow the wishes of the majority.

When he found out the next day that a vote was called on the matter approximately 10 minutes after all the parents left, Somerville said he was appalled.

"As parents we're angry," he said. "We're angry because we were lied to at that meeting."

A total of five parents including Somerville's wife, Lara Genesis, attended the meeting. All of the parents present spoke against a full day program, said Somerville.

Although he also disagrees with the decision that was made, Somerville said that he and his wife went into the meeting ready to respect the wishes of the majority. But normal procedure wasn't followed, said Somerville, and the decision doesn't reflect the input that was given.

The decision will affect both of Somerville and Genesis' children. The oldest child will be entering kindergarten in the fall.

A total of five DEA members were at the meeting. Two voted in favour of the change, one voted against and one abstained. As the chair, Norwegian didn't vote.

The decision should be reversed, discussed more and then a new vote should be held, suggested Somerville.

Somerville isn't alone in his concerns.

Anyes Fabre-Dimsdale, who was also at the meeting, said she left with the impression that no decision would be made until June.

Fabre-Dimsdale said she was frustrated when she found out that a vote had been held that night. She was also disappointed in the outcome of the vote.

In addition to all the parents at the meeting speaking in favour of a half-day kindergarten, the results of a survey sent out by the school also showed the same result. A total of 33 surveys were returned showing 20 people supported a half-day program and 13 supported a full-day program.

"We feel like that's been completely ignored," said Fabre-Dimsdale.

The number of DEA members who voted also concerns her.

"It doesn't seem to me to be right that two people can be responsible for a decision that will affect the whole school," she said.

Half a day was plenty for her daughter who has already completed the kindergarten program, Fabre-Dimsdale said. She has a second child about to enter kindergarten next year.

Richenda Cli, who was also at the meeting, said she was upset by the decision and the way it was made.

Because the public had been asked for their opinions, Cli said she thought the DEA would take them into consideration. When she heard about the vote, her idea changed.

"I just thought what was the point?'" she said.

"Why did they even bother asking public opinion when they'd already made a choice?"

Because the issue effects the whole community, Cli suggested that the whole village should be asked to vote on the matter.

Due process was followed for the vote, said Martina Norwegian, the chair of the association.

Having five of the eight DEA members is enough for a quorum, said Norwegian.

"This is a legal vote according to the Education Act," she said.

Parents might have misunderstood her answer about when the vote would be held, said Norwegian.

The plan was to hold the vote before June because a decision was needed before the budget meeting in June, she said.

The DEA looked at a number of factors before moving to a vote, Norwegian said. There was an ongoing discussion about the choice since February and surveys were sent out.

In addition, a member of the DEA who also represents the Liidlii Kue First Nation's band council said that the band supports a full day program, said Norwegian.

The DEA represents the community, is open and has to represent the majority and not just the few, said Norwegian.

The response of some parents to the vote has been disappointing, Norwegian added.

"I'm disappointed the parents didn't come to us as the local DEA," she said.

Because of the amount of interest taken in the outcome of the vote, the matter will be brought up at the next DEA meeting on April 24 as an open discussion item. Norwegian pointed out, however, that a vote has already been held.

"They took a vote on it and I think that will be final," she said.