York trustee can’t be made to resign

Administrator accused of making online racist, ‘xenophobic’ comments

The York Region District School Board said Tuesday it is powerless in forcing a trustee to resign, even though she is alleged to have made online comments that are “xenophobic, racist and hurtful.”

The board took the unusual step of explaining its position amid concerns from the public about posts made by trusteeelect Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey and confusion about whether or not she was stepping down.

Controversy first ignited weeks before the Oct. 22 municipal and school board elections when it was revealed that Facebook comments from Terrell-Tracey’s account made reference to the heritage of her opponent, Lena Singh.

“Just so you know ... Ms. Singh was born in Guyana. You are backing someone Not born in Canada ... We need a trustee that was born in Canada,” according to the account, which has since been deactivated.

At the time, Terrell-Tracey said her account had been hacked when left open on a computer in a public place — and she went on to win in East Gwillimbury and WhitchurchStouffville, garnering 9,344 votes, compared with Singh’s 5,788 votes.

On Oct. 25, Terrell-Tracey provided a letter to the board, saying she intended to resign and would withdraw her name as trustee-elect.

“I understand that some of my comments were hurtful and offensive and I am sorry,” she wrote in the letter, posted on the board’s website. “These comments are not reflective of me, my values and beliefs. They are also not reflective of the board’s values and priorities and I do not wish to be a dis- traction as the new board of trustees begins its work.”

But the next day, Terrell-Tracey asked the board to remove the letter, saying she had reconsidered and wasn’t stepping down. That turn of events, and calls from about 40 members of the public, prompted board chair Corrie McBain to issue a statement Tuesday. “The Facebook comments we have seen, regardless of context, were xenophobic, racist and hurtful,” McBain wrote, adding the board “works to create safe, equitable and inclusive learning and working environments for all our students, their families and our staff.”

But she also noted the election “is a democratic process determined by the votes cast” and that “the board has no jurisdiction or authority to force a duly elected trustee to resign or be removed from office.”

In an email response to the Star, Terrell-Tracey wrote:

“We are all created equal and I will work hard for All the students. My family is multicultural and also includes different religions. I am a Reiki Practitioner that believes in love & compassion for all. We are human first.”

Elected trustees begin their new term on Dec. 3.