LETHBRIDGE – Palliser Regional Schools is asking Alberta Minister of Education David Eggen to oversee an independent review into the school system after allegations of a “culture of fear” and abusive behaviour from one of the board’s superintendents.
The Palliser Board of Trustees requested the external review on the heels of an online petition organized by a group calling itself “Concerned Parents of Palliser Schools.”
The online petition calls for the “immediate suspension” of superintendent Kevin Gietz, citing “abusive language and demeanour, physical and verbal intimidation, threatening behaviour, as well as unwelcome physical contact of various female employees.”
The petition comes as Palliser faces a lawsuit from a former employee over allegations of an “oppressive atmosphere” and “unwanted physical touching” in relation to Gietz.
Palliser Regional Schools and Gietz have denied the allegations, claiming they “are entirely without merit.”
READ MORE: Alberta school board head accused of ‘unwanted physical touching’ and ‘oppressive atmosphere’
In response to the recently publicized allegations, Gietz himself requested the independent review in a letter, and asked that it start as soon as possible. He wrote the allegations are “distracting staff from daily operations and a focus on students and student learning.”
“The things going on are interfering with our daily operations and we are not able to concentrate on students and learning,” Gietz wrote in the letter.
“I can only control my actions, and I cannot control perceptions of others,” he told reporters Tuesday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 390 people had signed the petition, with several people leaving comments.
Brent Oldenburger from Lethbridge posted: “This has gone on far too long. There needs to be accountability for their actions. I am a former employee that saw a great school division going rapidly downhill after the previous superintendent retired. I retired in 2008 and was astounded as one after another of my former fellow employees were let go for no apparent reason.”
Picture Butte resident Jodi Bartz commented: “An independent investigation is long overdue. People have the right to have their concerns addressed.”
On Monday, Palliser Board Chair Colleen Dietz said the board was “well aware” of the petition.
“I would like to caution that the issues being raised are unverified and we are obviously concerned about what is being said and how Palliser is being portrayed,” Dietz said. “The fact that 300 people have signed the petition in just a couple of days – it is a concern.”
Details of the review process will be made public following consultation with whoever is selected to participate in the process.
Watch below: Global’s past coverage of the lawsuit launched against superintendent Kevin Gietz
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