Public school trustees narrowly back whistleblower policy
Opponents urge changes to address mistrust of complaints process
Critics say changes are still needed, but Hamilton’s public school board now has a whistleblower policy protecting students, staff, parents and others who allege wrongdoing from “unfair disciplinary actions or reprisals.”
Trustees approved the policy by a 6-5 vote after more than an hour of debate at their Monday board meeting, with those in support rejecting calls to refer it back to committee to add details on how whistleblower complaints will be handled.
“Getting this in place is long overdue,” said board chair Dawn Danko, who voted in favour, recalling multiple requests for a whistleblower policy since she became a trustee in 2014. “We always have the opportunity to improve, but we need to start somewhere, and I believe we need to start as soon as we can.”
The approval completes a process that began in November 2021 and prompted an initial draft last March that mostly focused on suspected financial improprieties, conflicts of interest and criminal acts like theft and fraud.
The final version widens that scope to include concerns about violations of human rights, bullying, child protection, violence, harassment and “abuse of positional power.”
But trustee Todd White said although the policy made sense to him when he supported it at a Jan.11 policy committee meeting, he found afterwards that others in the community and around the board table are still confused about some wording and the complaints process.
He urged trustees to refer it back to the policy committee for more revisions, including a general outline on what happens once a thirdparty company contracted to receive whistleblower complaints submits them to the board.
“This is a policy that we all want to champion. We should not see policies at the board that would potentially have a 6-5 vote or 7-4 vote,” White said prior to trustees’ decision.
“I’m not asking for perfection in sending it back, but identifying that clarity is needed and we need, as best practices of this board, to get in sync with our communities, our stakeholders and each other.”
Trustee Sabreina Dahab said more review is needed to consider “continuous comments from the community that the intended purpose is not being met” and that people won’t use it because the complaints process isn’t independent enough from the board.
“I guess that referring it might take more time, but if people aren’t going to be accessing a policy that is meant for them, that means that these policies at some point become ineffective,” she said.
But trustee Maria Felix Miller, who chairs the policy committee, said the board has addressed concerns by having a third party receive complaints and including an appeal process for those unhappy with the outcome.
The policy also isn’t meant to be “a catch-all for any conflict in our system” that circumvents other processes, like union grievances, but for “few and far between” cases, she said, acknowledging many people don’t trust the board.
“I do want it to be used,” Miller said. “I also want to make sure that it’s being used appropriately so that the resources are there for the cases that need it.”
While he supported referring the policy back to committee, Ray Mulholland was the only trustee to oppose the initiative.
“I don’t think this board should have a whistleblower policy. If there’s something wrong with the culture, then change the culture.”
‘‘ We should not see policies at the board that would potentially have a 6-5 vote or 7-4 vote.
TODD WHITE TRUSTEE