Another union calls for Catholic school board trustees’ resignations

Another local union is calling for the resignations of four Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board trustees who spent $50,000 to travel to Italy for a week in the summer to buy artwork for a new high school.

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Carlee Bond, president of District 23 of the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation representing educational support staff and early childhood educators, and Paul Rusyn, president of District 23 representing plant support staff, have issued a letter calling for the trustees to immediately give up their board seats.

“The decision for this trip to Italy is not simply a misstep, it betrayed the trust that our students, families, educators, support staff and community members have placed in you,” said the letter sent to trustees Rick Petrella, Bill Chopp, Dan Dignard and Mark Watson.

The local OSSTF joins the Brant Haldimand Norfolk unit of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association, which issued its own open letter earlier this month demanding the trustees step down.

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“Much like OECTA, our decision does not come easily or lightly,” said the letter signed by Bond and Rusyn. “It comes from a place of profound sadness, disappointment and frustration after recent revelations of your actions – actions that stand in stark contrast to the values ​​we all hold dear.”

The letter said union members’ faith in the trustees has been shaken after the trustees traveled to South Tyrol in July to purchase $100,000 worth of art to be installed in the chapel of St. Padre Pio Secondary School, which is under construction on Powerline Road.

A breakdown of expenses incurred on the trip, obtained by The Expositor through a Freedom of Information request, indicated the four trustees spent $31,500 for transportation, including $28,200 for flights; and almost $16,000 for hotels. The four men spent $1,600 for a single dinner at a gourmet hotel and spa in Italy.

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The trip came about a month after the school board approved changes to its trustee expense policy. Among the changes were a bump from economy/coach class to business class for air travel outside North America, allowance of charges above the standard hotel room rate, elimination of maximum rates for meals, and allowance of claims of alcohol in some cases.

Following public outcry about the trip, the board tightened up the policy, doing away with business class flights, setting meal rates in Canada, and prohibiting expenses for alcohol, among other changes.

Petrella issued a statement saying trustees regret their actions and will repay the board all their expenses. He also said donations are being collected to pay for the artwork.

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“You boastfully shared that there is a $33-million (school board) surplus, yet, instead of using your influence to change policies that would help to fund more supports for student and staff needs, new equipment and resources, you changed policies to fit your needs,” said the letter.

In mid-October, Minister of Education Jill Dunlop, who said the ministry and public “expressed clear concerns for the misuse of taxpayer’s dollars,” called for a governance review of the board.

Last week, Premier Doug Ford ordered an audit of all Ontario school boards amid a slew of travel scandals.

A report by CBC that the Lambton Kent District school board spent about $32,000 for three members of its Indigenous education team to attend a conference in Hawaii Jan. 3 to 6 is the latest involving school boards in Southwestern Ontario paying for trips by staff and trustees.

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The London Free Press reported the London-based Thames Valley District school board spent more than $38,000 on a three-day August retreat by 18 officials at the hotel inside the Toronto Blue Jays stadium, and the London District Catholic school board spent $16,000 on a one -night, two-day August meeting for 26 senior staffers in St. Catharines.

“Parents expect school boards to be responsible stewards of public education dollars to prioritize student achievement,” Dunlop said in a statement. “That is why we will also be examining audits of discretionary expenses and include them as part of the bi-annual review of board financials brought forward through legislation in Bill 98 last spring to create more accountability and transparency.”

In an email to The Expositor on Friday, Edyta McKay, spokesperson for Dunlop, said the governance review of Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board is “currently underway and is in the early stages.”

But local union representatives said they’re tired of waiting.

“The Ministry of Education’s delayed governance review only prolongs the community’s pain,” said the letter from OSSTF. “We believe that we cannot wait for external action when there is such an immediate need to restore trust and integrity to our board.”

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