Trustee sanctioned for revealing conduct probe
‘It feels like an attempt at censorship,’ Ward 2 rep Sabreina Dahab says
Hamilton public school trustee Sabreina Dahab says she’s exploring her options after being sanctioned for revealing that she is being investigated for allegedly breaching rules of conduct with social-media posts about Gaza.
Trustees emerged shortly before midnight from a private session Monday to vote 8-0 to support a formal inquiry report’s finding that the Ward 2 trustee disclosed confidential information in a Nov. 14 statement posted on Instagram, Facebook and X.
The statement revealed that trustees had launched an external investigation into allegations her posts on the Gaza conflict violated trustees’ code of conduct.
“I am concerned that this investigation is an attempt to silence me for my vocal condemnation of Israel apartheid and reprimand me for my posts about protests that were calling for the end to the siege of Gaza,” the statement said in part.
Trustees agreed with the report’s finding that the statement broke confidentiality rules because the decision to approve the investigation was made in private session and not reported publicly.
They also voted 7-1 without discussion to bar Dahab from participating in private sessions until she removes “any public post containing confidential information” — trustee Todd White was opposed. Dahab abstained from both votes as per board rules.
Contacted the next day, Dahab said she is disappointed by the board’s decision and will explore her options with her legal counsel before deciding whether to remove the Nov. 14 statement.
The code of conduct gives her 45 days to submit reasons why she shouldn’t be sanctioned.
“It feels like an attempt at censorship and we know that in the past couple of months many trustees have tried to make a case for why trustees should not be allowed to talk to media,” Dahab said, referring to proposed restrictions that were ultimately scrapped.
“I’m just concerned about how this is going to impact my ability to fulfil my duties as a trustee at this moment,” she said, adding she will continue to be vocal about Gaza.
“We’ve watched over 40,000 people be killed in the past couple of months and I remain committed to standing in solidarity with Palestinians, with Palestinian students and allies in our board, and in my own politic I remain committed to condemning Israeli apartheid.”
Board chair Maria Felix Miller said Dahab’s Nov. 14 statement was “a serious breach” of confidentiality, and the vote to publicly sanction her maintains a commitment to accountability and transparency.
“We want all trustees to be able to participate in all meetings because those are the job requirements, but one of those key requirements is adhering to confidentiality when it’s needed,” she said.
Miller said she isn’t “at liberty” to disclose the status of the initial investigation that prompted Dahab’s post because doing so would breach confidentiality.
She said alleged code of conduct violations are kept confidential to protect the privacy of those involved and determine if the allegations “are appropriate or not,” with trustees voting publicly if there is a violation or sanction.
“To do that publicly hurts the process,” Miller said. “If we immediately publicize any allegation just because it comes to light, that isn’t due process for the respondent,” she said.
“Sometimes we have an allegation of a breach and it’s because of lack of evidence or because it’s not made in good faith (that) we may consider not pursuing that, so it’s a moot point.”
White said he generally views code of conduct investigations as a failure of leadership and voted against sanctioning Dahab because forcing her to remove the Nov. 14 post will bring no material benefit.
Barring her from private sessions will “lose an effective voice,” he said, which is a concern because Education Minister Stephen Lecce recently suggested the province will force the board to sell the Sir John A. Macdonald high school property in Dahab’s ward.
The board has designated the site as a holding property after unsuccessfully applying for ministry funding to build an elementary school there to replace Hess and Strathcona schools, either alone or as part of a community hub with other partners.
“She’s going to have no voice,” White said, noting property matters are discussed in private session. “It’s an immense impact on an entire board of trustees and their ability to perform at a top level. Not having Sabreina there hurts us.”