Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 15/99) - Yellowknife's public school board got an earful Tuesday night from a pair of parents upset over the board's support of its superintendent's lawsuit against a local ratepayer.

Parents Ardith Dean and David Gilday told the Yk Education District No. 1 trustees that board superintendent Ken Woodley's lawsuit was a waste of taxpayer's money and the wrong way for a public body to handle such disputes. The lawsuit was filed last year against a parent and radio station CJCD over a series of broadcasts concerning the board's child abuse prevention protocol. It was broadcast in December of 1997.

Gilday even labelled the action an "intimidation" tactic.

"If there is a dispute between a parent and administration, we have to be able to set an example for our children," Dean said.

"If I expect my child to work out their problems in the schoolyard, this board should be able to resolve disputes without going to court."

Gilday, who praised the work of teachers and the education students receive in local schools, said Woodley should refuse public funding for his lawsuit and continue with his own money if he believes he was wronged.

"If he (Woodley) believes in this principle (that he was wronged) he'll go forward with it (with his own funds)," Gilday said. "If he doesn't believe in it, he'll drop it."

Both Woodley and board members have said publicly that any funds arising from a possible victory in the lawsuit for Woodley will go to board coffers, not the superintendent's pocket.

Gilday also said members of the public, like himself, only became aware of the contents of the broadcast once they went, on their own time, to examine court documents. Had they not, he said, most would not even know what the broadcasts contained. Woodley's lawsuit has simply served to highlight the issue.

"I only know the remarks (in the broadcasts) because someone went out and sued," he said.

When he was asked for a copy of his remarks to file with the board, Gilday said the possible dangers in the request should make clear to board members the type of atmosphere such a lawsuit could create among ratepayers.

"You walk into a meeting to discuss a lawsuit against parents," he said with a smile. "I'll probably eat this thing (his notes) when I get home.... This is intimidation."

Dean presented a petition, signed by 200 city residents, calling on the board to make a public accounting of the funds spent so far on the lawsuit. It also asked the board to convene a public meeting to examine the issue.

Board chair Dan Schofield thanked the pair and their nine colleagues in the crowd who joined them before trustees. Pointing to a variety of meetings over special education and other issues held in the fall or scheduled for this year, he said Yk No. 1 is attempting to run an open school board that encourages ratepayer involvement.

As to the Woodley lawsuit, Schofield said board bylaws dictate the fact trustees could not open up the issue to full debate Tuesday evening. It could be on the agenda at next month's meeting, he said.

Woodley said he could not comment on the issue Tuesday night.