Letter — Help us find a solution

A growing concern for many Brandon families is the inequity between students who are bused to school and those who live within walking distance — particularly during the lunch hour.

Bused students benefit from structured supervision and consistent expectations throughout the school day. Meanwhile, many walking-distance students are expected to leave school property or rely on informal, volunteer-based supervision during lunch. This creates an uneven experience for students and raises real concerns about safety, consistency, and fairness.

Why does a student living 1.6 kilometres from school receive different opportunities than a student 1.59 kilometres from their school?

The lunch hour is not “free time” in the way it once was. It is a critical part of the school day. Properly supervised lunch periods help keep children safe, support positive behaviour and allow students to return to class regulated, focused and ready to learn. Research and lived experience tell us that students do better academically and socially when they have predictable routines, adequate supervision and a safe place to eat and decompress during the day.

When lunch supervision is inconsistent or dependent on volunteers, it increases risk — for students, staff and families. It also places an unfair burden on parents who may not have the flexibility or resources to supervise their children midday, particularly working families.

Why are there regulations around students going outside for recess on cold or storming days, yet on those same days, students have to walk home during their lunch break?

Recognizing these challenges, a group of Brandon parents and caregivers has been working collaboratively with the Brandon School Division (BSD) to explore better solutions. We want to acknowledge that BSD has been responsive, open to discussion, and genuinely committed to finding a path forward that supports students and families.

However, BSD has been clear about the limitation they face: funding. Enhancing lunch supervision requires additional staffing, and the division does not currently have the provincial funding needed to support this at scale.

As a result, families who want consistent, non-volunteer lunch supervision are being asked to pay BSD directly to run these programs — a solution that further highlights inequities and is not sustainable or accessible for all families.

This situation places BSD in an impossible position. They recognize the need, they are willing to help, but without adequate provincial support, their options are limited.

That is why community voices matter.

We encourage parents, caregivers and community members who care about student safety and equity to attend the next Brandon School Division board of trustees meeting on Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. to show support. The meeting starts at 7 p.m., and we hope to see the entire community show support by standing together while the BSD staff and council arrive for the meeting.

A strong turnout will demonstrate that this issue is important to families and will help reinforce the need for BSD to continue advocating to the province for proper education funding. Follow the Facebook page “Parents of the Brandon School Division” for updates.

When families show up, it sends a clear message: lunchtime safety, supervision and equity are priorities — and they deserve to be treated as such.

Our students deserve safe, supportive school days from start to finish.

PARENTS OF BRANDON SCHOOL DIVISION

(Brandon Parent Council Collective)