Arthur Milnes
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 12/99) - The city's public school board has agreed to host a public meeting in order to clear the air over a lawsuit launched by the board's superintendent against a local parent.

While no date has been set, board members voted unanimously at their regular meeting Tuesday to hold the meeting.

They were responding to a petition presented to them last month by Ardith Dean. She had collected approximately 200 signatures on petitions asking the board to discuss issues rising out of the lawsuit filed by Ken Woodley last year against radio station CJCD and parent Laurie Sarkadi.

"I'm really glad they're going to do this,"

Dean said outside Yellowknife Education District No. 1 offices Tuesday. "It's going to bring things out in the open."

Board chair Dan Schofield said details of the meeting will still have to be worked out.

"Ms. Ardith Dean and the board will have to work out an acceptable date," he said, pointing out that part of the legal case is still before the courts. "The board will have to do some research."

Trustees Mark Loan, Terry Brookes, Bob Patterson and Al Woods also spoke in favour of the meeting.

Trustees Wendy Bisaro and Don MacDonald were not at Tuesday's meeting.

Dean's petition calls on the board to reveal how much the lawsuit has cost taxpayers, whether there is a ceiling on what the board is willing to pay, and, raises other concerns. It also stated that parents should be able to raise concerns to the board without fear of being sued.

Woodley and CJCD settled out of court last month but the suit against Sarkadi is still ongoing.

The suit was launched in response to a series of broadcasts on CJCD in Demember of 1997 concerning the board's child abuse prevention protocol.

Regardless of the board's decision to hold the meeting, Dean said she still thinks the lawsuit against Sarkadi should end.

"Why is the court case continuing?" she said. "That's my question right now and I think this board wants closure to this whole court case and so do the parents...and the taxpayers."

Despite this, she still praised the board for taking the step they did Tuesday.

"I finally feel the ship is sailing in the right direction and it sounds like it is being directed by the captain," she said. "I think the communication between the board and the parents is now going to open up and the board is willing to listen..."