The workplace environment at the Vancouver School Board has become so toxic that staff members have been forced to take sick leave, according to new allegations forwarded to WorkSafeBC.
Concerns for the safety of senior leadership staff were first raised in a letter from the B.C. School Superintendents' Association to the Ministry of Education this week.
CTV News has obtained a copy of the letter, which claims the workplace has been "unstable and unpredictable for many months now."
"This working environment continually and cumulatively creates a toxicity which fosters fear and lack of sense of safety for these lead educators," it reads.
"Some of our members have become physically ill and have had to take sick leave to ensure their health is not further compromised."
Most of the people affected worry that their jobs could be in jeopardy, according to the letter.
"There is a pervasive concern that the ongoing disruption, criticism and in some cases hour by hour direction of their work, if not done exactly as requested by individual trustees or the Board, may result in reprisals," it reads.
The letter also raises concerns that the situation could start impacting students.
It does not specify how many district employees have complained, however, or which elected school board trustees have been accused of misconduct.
Board chair Mike Lombardi told CTV News he's not aware of any such behaviour, but said there is mounting pressure on staff, which he blamed on decisions by the provincial government.
"I have not seen any signs of any kind of alleged harassment or intimidation or bullying of any of our employees. We go out of our way to support our employee groups, all of them: administrators, teachers, support staff and others," Lombardi said.
"But I understand the stress that they're under because… of the chronic underfunding and policy flip-flops of this government."
The allegations emerged days after two senior administrators left the Vancouver School Board on medical leave, but there has been no official confirmation that the incidents are related.
Education Minister Mike Bernier said the superintendents' letter was received and that the concerns were forwarded to WorkSafeBC.
The agency was contacted "because of their jurisdiction regarding bullying and harassment," Bernier said in an email statement.
WorkSafeBC told CTV News it will be launching an investigation into the allegations under the Workers Compensation Act.
With a report from CTV Vancouver's Bhinder Sajan
