Image: Willow Reichelt / Chilliwack Board of Education chair Willow Reichelt says an online petition meant to oust her from office, or compel her to resign, is rooted in falsehoods. The proponent of the online petition, Cindy Carpenter, says Reichelt does not listen to dissenting opinions and too often cuts the microphone of speakers with whom she disagrees.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Petition launched against SD33 trustee

SD33 parent launches petition to oust trustee, but board chair says online campaign isn’t true

Apr 20, 2023 | 4:19 PM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack Board of Education chair Willow Reichelt says an online petition meant to pressure her into resigning from public office is based on lies.

But the proponent of the petition found on change.org, Cindy Carpenter, says Reichelt has overstepped her authority as board chair and acted improperly and should resign or be removed. Carpenter says she is a parent of children enrolled in SD33.

“School Trustees, are put in place to engage their communities in building and maintaining a school system that reflects local priorities, values and expectations,” Carpenter wrote on the petition. “They are to listen to their communities, guide the work of their school district and set plans, policies and the annual budget. As seen many times in public School Board meetings, Willow does not listen when parents, guardians and other residents of the Chilliwack community, attempt to voice their concerns. She will turn off their mic before they’ve finished speaking. She will also shut off the mic of fellow trustees, if their opinion doesn’t align with hers.”

Image: Change.org / Cindy Carpenter’s petition against Willow Reichelt.

Reichelt argues the online campaign is grounded in falsehoods.

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“This petition is rooted in lies,” Reichelt said. “It is demonstrably false to suggest that I do not allow comments I disagree with. What I don’t allow is comments about topics not on the agenda (the chair is required to ensure we follow our board meeting bylaw), comments that are discriminatory or defamatory, or comments that spread deliberate misinformation. Respectful disagreement is always allowed and encouraged. The people of Chilliwack had their chance to weigh in on this topic in the October municipal election and overwhelmingly selected candidates who support diversity and inclusion. I will continue to work hard to ensure that SD33 is a safe and welcoming place for all students, parents and staff.”

The online petition is reminiscent of multiple petitions that sought to shame then-trustee Barry Neufeld on the Chilliwack Board of Education. Neufeld never resigned but was not reelected in the October 2022 municipal election. One of the petitions against him generated over 20,000 signatures.

Meanwhile, Carpenter suggests that parents and concerned Chilliwack residents are not having their input received or valued at all. For example, she insists that parents and stakeholders have followed other procedures to try and be heard, but don’t have a venue to voice those concerns.

“How are the parents and concerned residents, supposed to get their valued opinions heard? After all, they encompass the first and final responsibility of their children and have every right not only to know what is happening in schools but have a say, if they are in disagreement,” Carpenter wrote on the petition. “Emails go unanswered or are replied with a generic response without addressing the initial concern. These residents have even requested a private meeting with each board member and the Superintendent and again, no acknowledgement. They’ve also spoken with teachers and principals who tell you, to take your concerns up with the Board. In turn, the Chair will tell you to take your concerns to your teachers and principals. A game of chasing one’s tail without resolution.”

In her emailed statement, Reichelt says there are people in Chilliwack who harbor anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment when it comes to learning resources.

“There is a tiny but loud minority in our city who don’t believe LGBTQ+ people have equal rights and who want LGBTQ+ representation excluded from learning resources,” Reichelt said. “They are working with like-minded people from across Canada and even outside the country to bully and harass me in an attempt to get me to resign.”

Carpenter claims Reichelt undermined the integrity of the teaching profession and teachers in SD33 by stating that “no one advocating book banning in 2022, has any business being involved in public education.”

As it pertains to removing Reichelt from office, only voters can do that at the ballot box every four years. Concerning the selection of board chair, Reichelt says that process occurs every year.

“The board chair is elected by the board each year and serves at the pleasure of the board,” Reichelt said. “If trustees want a change in leadership, they have the opportunity to make that choice every December. In addition, if at any point the board loses confidence in the chair, they can move to hold a new board election. There is no mechanism to remove an individual trustee from office. A previous trustee was asked to resign by every education partner and the Minister of Education, yet he remained until he was defeated in our recent municipal election.”

Carpenter argues that if Reichelt continues as chair or trustee, parents will have no choice but to take their kids elsewhere.

“If she does not resign or is not removed, you will see a countless amount of our children removed from public schools,” Carpenter wrote in her petition.

The petition, which was launched on Tuesday, April 18, has received 1,661 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.