The Okanagan-Skaha School District declined to comment on an August 2011 incident where a now-convicted child predator visited the board's Penticton office and gained approval to transfer a student.
(SHANNON QUESNEL / iNFOnews.ca)
April 25, 2013 - 4:46 PM
Silence is the response from the Okanagan-Skaha School District regarding a now-convicted child predator, Rene Mark Burke, getting approval to transfer a student from one school to another.
Emails and phone calls requesting comment, were made out to school staff, school trustees as well as the lawyer representing the school board. School district superintendent Wendy Hyer responded but only to say she cannot comment.
The alleged incident happened sometime in August 2011 at the school board office in Penticton. Burke had gotten approval to move a male student from one school to another. He filled out one form, signed his own name and gave it to staff. A copy of this and a copy of the board's reply granting Burke further approval was given to the press by the boy's biological father.
Burke was supposed to have been sentenced this week for fear of sexual offence against person under 14, touching a young person and two breaches of recognizance. Sentencing was delayed. According to the victim's father some of these charges happened while Burke was involved with the male student he tried to transfer.
The victim's father was not surprised over the lack of comment. He said the board is acting as if it has done nothing wrong.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca or call 250-488-3065.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013