Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 11/98) - Yellowknife's public school board members have said it is the organization's duty to pay the legal fees of an employee who is suing a parent and a local media outlet.

"It's not a personal lawsuit," Yellowknife Education District No 1 board chair Terry Brookes said Monday when asked about a lawsuit launched by board superintendent Ken Woodley. "It's an employee's lawsuit by an employee of the corporation... The biggest thing they (the board) are looking for is an apology."

Woodley is suing the radio station CJCD, station employees Karl Geraghty and Brent Pushkarenko and parent Laurie Sarkadi. The suit rose out of a series of stores about the board's child abuse prevention protocol broadcast this past December.

"I would like to go on record as saying that any corporation has to support its CEO," trustee Mark Loan said.

Comments from other trustees were similar.

"I certainly support it," Bob Patterson said. "My feeling is that if things have been said that are not true, there should be some recourse.

"We have to support our people."

Wendy Bisaro said she supported the previous board's decision to pay Woodley's costs.

Trustees Dan Schofield and Al Woods could not be reached for comment as of press time.

As to any monies involved, members of the board said any possible award would go to the board of education, not Woodley, should a court rule in his favour. The lawsuit also asks that Woodley's legal fees be paid for by the defendants.

"Should we win, Ken Woodley is not going to receive any money," MacDonald said.

In a conversation with the Yellowknifer last week, Woodley agreed.

"I have no interest in any personal gain from this," he said. "The only thing I'm interested in is clearing my name."