The Board of Education is releasing this statement in response to recent media questions involving matters in the District over the past few months.
As the community is aware, the Board of Education were terminated and reinstated in unprecedented circumstances. Documents disclosed late in the Trustees’ litigation against the Province revealed undisclosed communication channels involving the Ministry and the Special Advisor, who was working closely with District staff at the time. All of the circumstances here raise the possibility of serious governance issues affecting the District, both leading up to and following our dismissal.
Since our reinstatement on May 25th, we have learned that key Board policies, reporting directives, and procedures safeguarding fiscal responsibility, accountability, and student safety were rescinded or altered in our absence, with no rationale provided to us. Furthermore, we are concerned about the possibility of financial benefits being provided to one or more individuals who opposed the Board’s stance on School Police Liaison Officers, as well as transactions occurring outside normal operating processes. The Board is in the process of trying to understand and verify what took place at the District level. This is not merely a governance concern for this Board, but for the school community as a whole as well as future elected boards exercising local policy decisions that may conflict with the Minister’s views. Our community deserves complete transparency as to what has occurred.
Our Superintendent, as well as other members of our senior leadership team, have gone on leave. We cannot discuss the details of their leave. Regardless, the Board remains committed to uncovering the facts and is hopeful that these absences do not impede our attempts to gain transparency and ensure appropriate oversight and governance practices are being followed. To be clear, their leave has not impacted and will not in any way impact the return to school for teachers, staff, students, and parents. We have very capable designates in place and the Board will be stepping up to assist where appropriate and necessary and the return to school will be as smooth as usual.
School Administrators (Principals and Vice Principals) and District staff are preparing schools and District programs for the new school year. This work has been ongoing throughout the summer, including cleaning and upgrading school buildings, hiring staff, updating technology, and planning professional development for staff and learning for students. Next week, school staff will finish preparing classrooms and learning spaces. Together, we all look forward to welcoming students and families back to school on September 8. We have a wonderful staff, and we fully expect a great start to the school year.