POWR Seek Transparency Regarding the Departure of Jeewan Chanicka

A Letter to the Waterloo Region District School Board

As many have heard, there was an announcement sent out this morning via email to all staff of the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB):

Messages began rushing in, all expressing support for the news. Many included questions of 'why', some offered predictions, and others suggested that this matter warrants further investigation.

As we reflect on the recent announcement that Jeewan Chanicka is no longer the Director of Education for the Waterloo Region District School Board, it’s essential to recognize the role that parents, teachers, and community members have played in this outcome. Whether Jeewan Chanicka left voluntarily or was removed from this position, there is no denying that the collective efforts of people and parents of Waterloo Region (POWR) were instrumental in bringing critical issues to light and holding leadership to account.

This is a moment to be pleased with our endurance and our trust in the process. Together, we have shown that standing up, speaking out, and shedding light on the truth can lead to meaningful change. We can hold steadfast in knowing that if it isn’t good, it isn’t over.

If you agree that the board ought to be disclosing more information regarding the rational of Jeewan Chanicka’s departure, please join me in vocalizing this either with a phone call to the Waterloo Region District School Board or via email to all or your trustee representatives. Again, it is advised to copy Trustees Cindy Watson and Mike Ramsay in the correspondence to ensure that they are brought to the table. Please feel free to use whatever holds true for you, from the letter below or write your own note. It need not be long.

A Letter Seeking Transparency Regarding the Departure of Jeewan Chanicka:

To the Trustees of the Waterloo Region District School Board,

I write to you as a discerning and engaged parent and stakeholder in our public education system regarding your recent communication to staff, which stated, "Please be advised that Jeewan Chanicka is no longer the Director of Education of the Waterloo Region District School Board." This announcement, notable for its brevity and lack of context, raises far more questions than it answers. The omission of even the most basic details—such as whether this departure was voluntary or the result of disciplinary action—is deeply disconcerting. Furthermore, it is unacceptable that this notification was limited to staff, with no corresponding announcement or explanation provided to parents, whose children are directly impacted by such leadership changes, and whose tax dollars make the publicly funded system possible.

While the board has an obligation to respect privacy, particularly in personnel matters, this must be balanced with the public’s right to transparency regarding decisions that shape the education system. The role of the Director of Education is one of immense public significance, and the circumstances of a departure from such a position are inherently a matter of public interest. Confirming whether this departure was voluntary or forced is a minimal expectation in the name of good governance and public accountability.

Good governance in public institutions demands transparency as a cornerstone of accountability. While the notification to staff was a necessary step, failing to extend the same level of communication to parents undermines trust and respect for the broader community of stakeholders. Parents are key partners in the education system, and withholding critical information about leadership changes conveys disregard for their role and their voiced discontentment or concerns.

This situation is made all the more disturbing given the unprecedented dissatisfaction expressed by parents, teachers, and other school staff during Jeewan Chanicka’s tenure. Rarely have so many stakeholders and staff members so vocally questioned a director’s leadership. To now withhold information about the circumstances of his departure dishonours the very individuals who have worked on the frontlines of our education system. It is also an affront to the parents who have either tirelessly advocated for better leadership from the WRDSB and/or have entrusted this board with their children’s education and, most critically, to the students, who deserve a governance body committed to integrity and transparency.

The lack of transparency raises legitimate questions about the board’s decision-making processes. If the trustees are unwilling to provide clarity on an issue as significant as this, how can the public have confidence in the board’s governance? Parents and school board staff are now left to question if this secrecy serves to shield the board from accountability.

At the very least, the board has a duty to confirm whether Jeewan Chanicka’s departure was voluntary or the result of termination. This disclosure does not compromise privacy; it upholds the public’s right to understand leadership decisions affecting the school system. Such transparency is both reasonable and essential to rebuilding the trust that has been in question.

Transparency is not optional in public service; it is a foundational principle. Without it, the relationship between the board and its stakeholders is irreparably damaged. I trust that you will act in a manner that upholds the principles of good governance, accountability, and respect for the community you serve by providing the clarity that parents, staff, and students deserve.

I look forward to your prompt response and to seeing the board take steps to address this critical lapse in communication and transparency.

Earnestly,
Cristina Fernandes
Living Woman, Citizen and Parent of Waterloo Region
Taxpayer of the WRDSB
Mother to two children in the publicly funded school system in Waterloo

The Waterloo Region Record has since released the news, stating that “a spokesperson for the [Waterloo Region District] school board said the board had “no comment” on the announcement”. And that “the news came as a surprise to the local elementary teacher union, who said they had no forewarning.”

The reporter, Robert Williams, also highlighted that Jeewan Chanicka is “a self-described “educator, activist and speaker,” Chanicka came to the role after serving as the CEO for Al Rajhi Education in Dubai, a group working to develop “holistic educational systems to embody the values of Islamic faith in a child-centered environment.” Chanicka was tasked with developing the blueprint for growing its schools across the Middle East.”

As of 3:25PM on Dec 5, 2024 there has been no news or announcements on the WRDSB website nor a message to parents and stakeholders via the School-Day Mailer.

We must continue to seek transparency, accountability, and excellence in our education system for the sake of our children and society at large. Stay strong, keep (or begin) speaking up, and never underestimate the power of a united community working for what is right!

With gratitude and faith,
Cristina Fernandes
A mother first.