Home page

Text size

E-mail this page

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife Catholic Schools trustee resigned Monday, citing her disappointment with how board chair Mary Vane handled the public's outcry over the board's attempt to oust two of its most senior employees in January.

Rose-Marie Jackson resigned from the Yellowknife Catholic Schools' board of trustees Monday, saying that she had lost confidence in the board chair's ability to lead the board. - NNSL file photo

"I feel that the apology she just gave two months after the big board meeting they had in January is just too little too late and I have no confidence in the board chair's ability to lead the board," said trustee Rose-Marie Jackson minutes after resigning at a special board meeting Monday.

Jackson was referring to a statement Vane had read moments earlier, addressing public concerns about the board's practices and leadership in the wake of the attempted administrative shakeup.

The board attempted to fire Johnnie Bowden, a popular former principal at St. Patrick High School, and the school district's assistant superintendent of learning, in January. Trustees also planned not to renew superintendent Claudia Parker's contract but word got to the community and trustees were confronted with a huge public backlash during a school board meeting Jan. 18.

Vane read a statement at Monday's meeting in which she apologized for comments made to the media after the January board meeting where she implied that the board had reasons for dismissing Parker and Bowden but could not share them with the public for confidentiality reasons.

Vane also said at Monday's meeting that the board had brought in a consultant from the Alberta School Boards' Association to ensure that the way in which the board is conducting its private meetings follows the NWT Education Act and the board's own policies after concerns were raised by members of the public at the February and March school board meetings. The consultant informed the board that it has been holding meetings properly, said Vane.

"What we'll do is make sure that we're not discussing things in the committee of the whole meeting before supper that we can't put out to the public. So, we have to be careful that we don't do that, but our meetings are all in compliance," said Vane.

Jackson said she went to Monday's meeting expecting to resign.

"There hasn't been a change at the leadership level. So, with those facts, I feel that I am not being an effective trustee, so I should just step down because I'm not able to move forward but all the other trustees are," said Jackson.

Jackson declined to comment on her stance on the board's attempt to terminate Bowden's contract and not, renew Parkers, saying she did not want to breach the confidentiality of an in-camera session.

"I can tell you that had withdrawal of the motions not happened at the January board meeting, I was going to resign in protest then," she said.

This is the third time a trustee has stepped down from the seven-member board since the last municipal election in October 2009. Jennifer Debogorski resigned in October 2010, and was replaced by Gerda Hazenberg, the current vice-chair; Francis Chang resigned in February 2011 to be replaced by Lee Stroman.

Jackson confirmed there has been discussion during private meetings among board members about whether the board executive should step down after members of the public called for their resignations at board meetings in January and February.

"I would have liked to have seen a change in leadership at the board level," said Jackson in response to an inquiry about what would have made her stay on the board. "I'm not necessarily asking that individual to leave the board but to step down from the position as board chair."

Vane, who spoke to Yellowknifer on behalf of the remaining board members, said, "Rose has worked very hard while she has been on this board and she has given a great deal, and this board appreciates the work she has put into it."

Vane declined to comment on her resignation, saying only that, "her decision is her decision."

Jackson said she is unsure of what her future involvement with the Catholic school district will be.

"My plan now ... in terms of this organization, is just to take a break from it and just see how things end up working out for the remaining trustees," she said. "And then there is an election in the fall."

When asked if she would consider running for the board in this fall's election, Jackson said she would have to think about it, and that it would depend entirely on who else is running.

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.