Please find below the Meeting Minutes from the Special Announcement Meeting on the topic of reassigning our school Principal, as led by SD83 Superintendent Donna Kriger on Tuesday, May 13, 2025.
Meeting Info
Meeting Type: Special Announcement Meeting
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Armstrong Elementary School – Staff Room
Facilitator: Donna Kriger, Superintendent of Schools (DSI), School District 83
Attendance: SD83 Superintendent Donna Kriger, AES Principal Val Edgell, some AES PAC members (Roxanne Landry, Chloe Hale, Nadine Zakoski, Tammie Turner, Jordi Fraser, Pam Rennie, Kim Holt, MJ Duford, Nicole Shore, Michelle, Jamie McDonald, Summer Belanger)
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 4:02 PM.
Purpose of Meeting
The meeting was called by SD83 Superintendent Donna Kriger to inform PAC representatives of an administrative change: the reassignment of Armstrong Elementary School Principal Val Edgell for the 2025–2026 school year. PAC was given two days’ notice. No district-wide notice was sent to the full AES parent and guardian community prior to the meeting.
Announcement
Superintendent Kriger shared that Principal Val Edgell will be reassigned to Shuswap Middle School starting in September 2025. This reassignment is part of SD83’s annual review of school leadership placements.
She stated that the current principal at Shuswap Middle, Scott Anderson, had retired unexpectedly. The school is currently being led by Acting Principal Lara Matthews and Vice Principal Raegan Petch. Superintendent Kriger explained that Val Edgell’s leadership was needed at Shuswap Middle and that Armstrong Elementary would receive a new principal in her place: Megan Weir.
Megan Weir began the 2024–2025 school year as Vice-Principal at Bastion Elementary in Salmon Arm and was later moved mid-year to serve as Acting Principal at Salmon Arm West Elementary following a staff emergency. She will be reassigned to Armstrong Elementary for fall 2025. Superintendent Kriger shared that Ms. Weir brings strong leadership experience, adaptability, and a reputation for supporting school communities through transition. She emphasized that Ms. Weir was selected for AES because of these strengths.
Principal Edgell was present for the meeting but was not involved in planning the announcement. She had only been informed of her reassignment a few days prior and requested Ms. Kriger deliver the news to AES.
Discussion
PAC members raised multiple concerns and questions, including:
- What support would be offered to students during this transition
- Whether other options were considered (e.g., filling vacant roles internally at Shuswap Middle by their existing administrators or termporarily by non-student facing administrators from the district)
- Why a principal reassignment was made in a year already marked by staff shortages and student impact at AES
- Why PAC or the school community were not consulted in advance
Specific discussion points included:
- The importance of continuity for AES students, especially after a year of multiple staff illnesses and CEA cuts
- Principal Edgell had anticipated continuing her work at AES for the foreseeable future and was actively engaged in planning fall programming
- Lack of clarity about how assignments were made across the district, including criteria used to decide which schools would see leadership changes and which would not
Superintendent Kriger acknowledged that the decision would be upsetting and shared that she understood parents would be sad and potentially angry. She stated that many schools were undergoing leadership changes, and that this move was consistent with district practice.
Superintendent Kriger emphasized that the district considered Val’s leadership style to be highly valued. PAC noted that with Val close to retirement, moving her would not only remove continuity from AES but also fail to provide long-term stability to Shuswap Middle. Questions were also raised about why existing staff at Shuswap Middle were not promoted to provide continuity there.
Superintendent Kriger emphasized that Megan Weir was chosen for AES for her compassion and ability to support staff during difficult transitions. PAC members asked why, given Ms. Weir’s strengths and experience, the district did not consider placing her at Shuswap Middle School.
When asked whether the decision was in the best interest of AES students, Superintendent Kriger did not offer a direct response or rebuttal and did not provide a school-specific rationale. She confirmed the decision by the District Leadership Team was final and would not be revisited.
No opportunity for consultation had been provided to the PAC or parent community prior to the announcement. No formal feedback process or appeal mechanism was described or provided to the PAC during, before, or after the meeting.
Outcome
- Superintendent Kriger stated the decision by the District Leadership Team to reassign Principal Edgell was final
- PAC members expressed that while the process lacked transparency, they remain committed to supporting the success of all students and staff, including welcoming the incoming principal and helping facilitate a smooth transition
- No specific student support plan was presented at the meeting
- No formal consultation process was proposed or undertaken
- PAC members expressed deep appreciation for Principal Edgell’s leadership, especially her role in maintaining a positive school culture during a year of significant change
- Superintendent Kriger issued email communication of the reassignment to all AES parents via email on May 14, 2025
Meeting Adjourned
The meeting concluded at 5:14 PM. Principal Edgell walked Superintendent Kriger out at the close of the meeting.
Prepared by: AES PAC
Note: These minutes were prepared by a PAC Director as the PAC Secretary was unable to attend due to injury.