Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / Chilliwack School District has sent emails to parents of students from two elementary schools, possibly more, to solicit their feedback about menstrual products in SD33 washrooms.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

SD33 Survey

Chilliwack School District to survey parents about menstrual products in SD33 washrooms

Jun 26, 2024 | 9:22 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack School District has sent emails to parents of students from two elementary schools, possibly more, to solicit their feedback about menstrual products in SD33 washrooms.

According to the copy of an email that was sent to a Chilliwack parent, and obtained by Fraser Valley Today but not publicly revealed on the SD33 website or its social media pages, B.C. Ministerial Order 149/89 requires school boards in B.C. to collect feedback from students concerning the provision of menstrual products to students of all gender identities or expressions.

The school district told parents in the email that an electronic survey would be conducted in their child’s class prior to the end of the 2023-24 school year, which wraps up Thursday, June 27 with an early dismissal.

The survey is voluntary and anonymous, and results will be shared with the Chilliwack Board of Education. The survey questions include the following:

• Have you accessed menstrual products at schools?
• Have there been any barriers in accessing menstrual products in schools?
• Are you able to access menstrual products in a safe and confidential manner that protects your privacy?
• Have you accessed menstrual products for friends and/or family members?

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The survey directs parents to contact their school administrator if they have any concerns.

The survey questions don’t ask parents what they think of the policy or whether they disagree with placing menstrual products in elementary boys bathrooms. SD33 has not released any data on incidents of vandalism involving menstrual products and dispensers in its facilities, with Chilliwack Board of Education chair Willow Reichelt telling one Chilliwack parent in April 2024 that it was a nonissue.

At its meeting in June 2023, the Board of Education reaffirmed policy 433 providing for menstrual products, including an amendment backed by trustee Teri Westerby. The amended policy added the words “specifically in all variations of washrooms (male, female, gender-neutral).”

SD33 began rolling out the menstrual products in all bathrooms thereafter.

Prior to their adoption of the amended menstrual products policy, SD33 only surveyed students in GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) clubs about providing period products in all district facilities, not the general student population, in what could be interpreted as a biased, unrepresentative sample. SD33 used the survey results to justify its decision to provide period products in all district bathrooms.

Not only did the school district fail to communicate with the public around the rollout of menstrual products, which Reichelt acknowledged in an April 2024 email to Chilliwack parent Judi Chalmer, the school district sought more money from the B.C. government for menstrual products within days of the vote on June 27, 2024.

A July 2023 letter from the B.C. minister of education reveals that the B.C. government did not extend additional financial assistance in response to a request from the chair of the Chilliwack Board of Education for more menstrual products funding.

According to a letter dated July 24, 2023, and obtained by Fraser Valley Today, Education Minister Rachna Singh thanked board chair Willow Reichelt for her letter dated June 29, 2023 in which she asked for support in delivering menstrual products, described as “essential resources” by Singh, to SD33 students.

“Thank you for your letter of June 29, 2023, outlining the financial challenges involved in addressing period poverty, particularly in providing menstrual products in schools, and to request support in delivering these essential resources to students,” Singh wrote. “The Ministry of Education and Child Care appreciates the board’s actions in providing barrier-free menstrual products to students of all gender identities or expression at no cost and for creating safe and inclusive learning spaces where all students can be supported to thrive.”

At its meeting on June 27, 2023, Chilliwack school board members approved a motion to send a letter to the education minister and parliamentary secretary for gender equity to communicate the cost pressures associated with addressing period poverty and to ask for support in delivering these supports to students.

Singh noted in her response to Reichelt’s letter that Chilliwack School District was slated to receive $188.6 million in operating and special purpose grants for the 2023-24 school year, an increase of $13.3 million compared to the 2022-23 school year. In other words, SD33 appears to have had the necessary funds to pay for what its progressive trustees voted for.