Halifax District Parent Teacher Association
PO Box 33042 Quinpool RPO
Halifax, NS B3L 4T6


March 22, 1999

Mr. David Reid 
Superintendent
Halifax Regional School Board

Dear Mr. Reid:

re : Product Evaluation Committee (PEC)

We are writing to express our concern regarding the recent resignation of Citizens for a Safe
Learning Environment (CASLE) from the School Board's Product Evaluation Committee (PEC).
The January 1999 CASLE newsletter reports that: "CASLE stepped down from the PEC on
February 3/99 due to large flaws in the process - we could not endorse the process or have
CASLE's name associated with it".

As you know Halifax contains a mix of aging schools, which are not without their environmental
health and safety problems. While the School Board has jurisdiction in this area, we believe it is
important that parents be represented too. CASLE provides such representation, while working to
improve school building environmental conditions for all occupants including staff and children.
As parents we all benefit from CASLE's participation.

CASLE is a widely recognized authority on the subject of environmental health and safety. They
routinely provide information to various provincial government departments, school boards and
media in Nova Scotia and nationally. They have provided key addresses at conferences and just
completed a series of presentations at the request of the Nova Scotia Department of Education
and Culture.  We have been informed that CASLE has recently joined the Advisory Board for
Research Into School Indoor Air Quality at the Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre,
Dalhousie University.  They provide to the School Board much expertise and at no cost.

They have a well-known reputation for taking a credible and responsible approach in their work. We
are concerned that the School Board would lose the benefit of such a valuable resource, and at
the same time, silence a voice for parents.

We urge you to investigate the circumstances that led to CASLE's resignation,  resolve the concerns 
and to invite them to return as a member of the PEC. If there are flaws in the process and/or other
problems are left uncorrected, the School Board would effectively be condoning an unacceptable
position and sending a message that it is not accountable for its actions and doesn't value community 
participation..


We would appreciate being informed of what action has been taken to rectify this situation.

We look forward to hearing from you on this issue. Thank you.

Sincerely,



Cheryl Kozey and Dick Tilley, Co Chairs

HDPTA