In response to concerns from some parents that the district's waiver and consent field trip forms are too heavy-handed, the New Westminster school district is putting out a new draft form for public consultation.
At Tuesday's regular school board meeting, assistant superintendent Al Balanuik talked about the new draft consent and waiver form that the district would like input from the public on.
Balanuik said the four-page form, which has been customized for a child participating in a snowboarding or skiing event, can also be customized for any other high-risk activity.
The new form includes a commentary paragraph intended to educate parents on the rights they have not given up by signing the form.
The commentary paragraph reads: "It is the school district's intent that the waiver and consent form provide parents with sufficient information about the field trip to facilitate parents making an informed decision about the participation of their child in this activity. This consent and waiver form is not asking parents to give up the right to sue if there has been gross negligence on the district's part. Nor can a parent give up the right of the child to sue."
Balanuik said he helped draft this alternate consent and waiver form after receiving feedback from parents that the previous draft form "contained too much legalese and wasn't accessible to parents."
Prior to Christmas, a local Lord Kelvin Elementary parent emailed The Record with her concerns about the district's draft consent and waiver form for a child participating in a high-risk activity.
"Basically you sign all your legal rights away, and the school takes no responsibility for your child," writes Martha Groenwold. "Both parents must sign it and witness it. I was told by the teacher if I don't sign all clauses, he can not go.
"We are concerned because we are the responsible ones for our children and do not want to sign our rights away since the form basically says that no matter what they do, they are not responsible, and we can't sue."
The clause that Groenwold was most concerned with asked parents to "waive any and all claims I may have against, and release from all liability and agree not to sue the board of education of School District No. 40 (New Westminster) and its officers, employees, agents, volunteers and representatives, and the Ministry of Education for any personal injury, death, property damage or loss sustained as a result of my child's participation in the field trip, arising out of any cause whatsoever, including negligence."
Trustee Casey Cook commended Balanuik for the work he did in helping put together a new draft consent and waiver form.
"I recognize the incredible amount of work that went into this," said Cook. "I like the openness. I think it's important to do that.
"I still believe there will be a fair amount of questions about this."
Cook successfully moved a motion that the new draft consent and waiver form be presented at the Feb. 7 education committee meeting for parents to provide feedback.
To see the district's new draft consent and waiver form, please go to this link: Consent and Waiver Draft 2
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