Public school board struggles with its own process

‘Saying that we are committed to transparency doesn’t make it transparent,’ vice-chair says

Public school board trustees are raising concerns about a lack of transparency surrounding their own code of conduct probe.

At a Monday evening board meeting, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) vice-chair Cam Galindo addressed public criticism of board secrecy surrounding its probe into allegations of racism and oppression involving four trustees.

“Ninety-nine per cent of our code of conduct process takes place behind closed doors and away from public oversight,” Galindo said. “It’s my opinion that on matters of accountability, conduct and ethics, on the part of trustees as elected officials, (we) should and (need) to be as transparent as possible.

“Saying that we are committed to transparency doesn’t make it transparent.”

Trustees have been discussing the matter in private sessions for weeks, ever since a thirdparty report found evidence of racism among some trustees and efforts to silence the voice of a former student trustee. The board is now conducting a separate internal probe, one that will consider information contained in the report.

Board chair Dawn Danko echoed Galindo’s comments at the Monday meeting, adding she hopes an ongoing review of governance practices clears up code of conduct transparency issues.

“What does it mean to be transparent?” Danko said.

“What does it mean to have clear processes that we can use to make sure that we have the trust of the public and understanding from the public?”

Still, Danko said little when The Spec asked the board for more information about the internal probe. Trustees voted last week to use an “alternative process” to look into allegations against trustees identified by The Spec as Kathy Archer, Carole Paikin Miller, Alex Johnstone and Becky Buck.

“This alternate process includes ensuring due process and following they key next steps for the board of trustees to determine any code of conduct breaches and appropriate sanctions,” Danko said. “As per our code of conduct, trustees will deliberate when they have all of the required information to consider.”

Danko acknowledged “the process is not moving as swiftly as members of the community would like.”

The board is expediting its code of conduct review and sanction process in response, she said.