Robert Weistche, chairman of the Cree School Board, has levelled a number of serious criticisms at the Health Board.
He said the Health Board has dumped much of its responsibility for people in need onto the School Board. Some examples:
The School Board is now handling many social services cases due to the Health Board’s “lack of response,” Weistche said. “It often seems that any referral we try to make, for valid social and family reasons, is sent back to us.”
In the case of one student with cerebral palsy, the School Board had to provide all the care, including assessment by a Montreal specialist and medical exams.
Weistche said Youth Protection workers have no policies to guide them.
He also said a third to one-half of the students in the School Board’s Shiwaimakinch special-needs program in Chisasibi are above the legal age where they can be cared for by the School Board.
“Because there are no community programs organized by the Cree Health Board for these students, they are condemned to going to school forever.”
