Daniel MacIsaac
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 11/99) - Ken Woodley says he doesn't understand the charge of non-cooperation levelled against him by Yellowknife's public schoolbaord.

The superintendent of Yellowknife District No. 1 was suspended with pay last Thursday -- and so far the only reason cited by the board is that it, "did not receive the cooperation anticipated" in carrying out a review of Woodley's performance.

"This is the first I've heard of it," said Woodley on Wednesday, "they haven't spoken to me in any shape, fashion or form."

The board released only a brief statement Monday -- and all inquiries have been referred to chairman Dan Schofield, who had been unavailable in Hay River until his return to Yellowknife on Wednesday.

Woodley's suspension came through a motion passed by the board at a special meeting Thursday evening, while the superintendent was in Edmonton.

Because the meeting was in camera, minutes released Wednesday show only that all seven board members were present, as well as Secretary Treasurer Grant Rice and Assistant Superintendent Judith Knapp, who is taking over for Woodley on an interim basis.

The motion states that Woodley's suspension may be extended by a further 30-day period, "if necessary to permit the board to complete the performance review."

The motion also authorizes the chairman to arrange to have Woodley's computer access removed and the locks to the district office changed and says the superintendent is not permitted on any of the district's properties without Schofield's permission.

While all seven board members voted in favour of the motion, the minutes note some concern by Terry Brookes.

Contacted Wednesday, Brookes confirmed he does, "not believe the board followed due process and in the interest of the board would like to seek additional substantiation."

"I want to find out more about this -- there's a lot of things that make me wonder," he said. "It was a quick meeting, and this is a serious matter -- and we need time to consider all of the ramifications."

Further enlightenment may not be coming soon -- at least not for the public.

Chairman Schofield said Wednesday that he could say little at this time and added that because the suspension is a personnel matter, debates will continue to be in camera and away from the public eye. He said only the results of the board's findings would be released and that the board will take as much time as it needs to reach a conclusion.

Schofield would not explain the timing of the performance review -- coming as it does on the heels of Woodley's last one in the fall, which the superintendent described as "overall good."

Schofield would only say there was no need to wait for the end of the school year to proceed with the review.

"The board has felt the need to review the performance of our superintendent," he said. "We're confident it won't be disruptive to the schools and we're confident our assistant superintendent can carry on in the meantime," he said.