Education Minister George Abbott is aware of the concerns of some parents about teachers serving as school trustees, but he hasn't formed any conclusions about the situation.
Abbott was in the Royal City on Thursday morning to announce playground funding, but he also answered questions about other timely education issues.
New Westminster has been one of the districts where parents have moved resolutions via the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, and last month at the confederation's annual meeting, other parents supported the New Westminster parents' bid to ban teachers from serving as school trustees.
The confederation passed New Westminster district parent advisory council's resolution to follow Ontario and Alberta's lead in banning school board employees, including teachers, from serving as school trustees to avoid a genuine or perceived conflict of interest.
Currently in B.C., school board employees are only unable to run in the school district where they work.
"I know this has been an object of debate (at BCCPAC)," said Abbott. "We will look at it closely but I haven't formed any conclusions. ... I don't have a definitive response right now. It's far too early.
"I do know that we have had a good relationship with the New Westminster school district. Others have had quarrels."
Abbott said ministry staff do take the BCCPAC resolutions seriously and they will be looking at everything that comes from the confederation, including getting answers to technical issues that come out of resolutions.
In New Westminster, trustees Michael Ewen, Jonina Campbell and David Phelan are all teachers serving on the seven-member board.
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