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Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office launches review of school safety and supports at Hidden Valley Elementary School

Wednesday, 4 August 2021 14:16

By Dylan MacNeil

Hidden Valley Elementary School as seen from Google Maps.

Parents say they are appalled at the lack of communication about a former school employee convicted of sexual interference with a child.

The Yukon Child and Youth Advocate Office has launched a systematic review of school safety and supports at Hidden Valley Elementary School after parents say they weren’t informed that an educational assistant who used to work there was convicted of sexual interference with a child last year.

CHONFM has heard from concerned parents of students who say they are appalled by the lack of communication from the government and the school regarding the incident. One parent told us that the first they heard of it was in a local newspaper.

“I’m really concerned about the level of stress this is creating for the families, and the more stress you have in the family, the more trauma you have for the children. The impacts of abuse are directly influenced by how the adults respond. If the parents don’t get the appropriate supports, then the stress filters down to the children,” says child and youth Advocate Annette King.

Brad Cathers, MLA for Lake Laberge, the riding Hidden Valley Elementary School is in, sent a letter to the Minister of Education Jeanie McLean expressing the concerns of his constituents. He wants answers from the government.

“The Government has an obligation to parents, a duty to parents, to communicate with them when the safety of their children may have been breached, and their failure to communicate about this very very serious matter of the conviction of a former employee is absolutely unacceptable,” says Cathers.

Cathers says McLean has not responded.

McLean was asked for remarks on the matter while she was attending this morning’s COVID-19 news conference. She refused to comment.

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