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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Board accountability and school supports for gay and lesbian students were two of the dominant issues at the Yellowknife Catholic trustee candidates forum on Tuesday.

New candidates and incumbents seeking re-election both vowed the next Catholic school board will be more open and transparent after the controversy earlier this year over the board's attempt to remove superintendent Claudia Parker and assistant superintendent Johnnie Bowden. The move surprised and angered parents, which forced trustees to back-peddle on their attempt to remove the two long-time employees. About 30 people were on hand to hear candidates debate.

A proposal for a recorded vote to increase board transparency took root during the forum and most candidates said they were on board.

"We as elected representatives are accountable to you, the voters," said Amy Simpson-Hacala.

"If you don't know how we are representing you, then the system is broken."

Simpson-Hacala is a controversial candidate herself. The Catholic school district tried to prevent her from running for re-election in 2006 after learning of her web blog, which espoused decidedly non-Catholic views on premarital sex, homosexuality and religion.

Simon Taylor was the only candidate to question the benefit of the recorded vote, saying it puts voters who are against a majority decision in a difficult place and less able to defend board decisions after they are adopted.

"While I understand the desire, and I think the desire is based particularly in relation to recent events, I'm not entirely convinced that it's a great idea," he said.

John Dalton, one of the most vocal opponents of the board last spring, argued that a recorded vote would demonstrate respect for opposing views, plus indicate to voters that the trustee is fulfilling their responsibility to represent them.

During the audience question period, Jacq Brasseur, co-chair of It Gets Better Yellowknife, asked candidates what they would do to support gay and lesbian students in light of a survey conducted by her group earlier this year indicating some students in the Catholic school system were hearing anti-gay language on a daily basis.

While all candidates said they support an accepting school environment for all students, they were vague about what kind of action to take to combat the bullying of gay and lesbian students. Some candidates said the schools already provided tolerant environments.

Francis Chang, who has resigned twice after being elected to the board - the latest in February 2011 after citing difficulties with his work schedule - said the board's role is to support teachers and staff, and initiatives concerning gay and lesbian youth should come from them.

"They are the frontline people," he said. "They will come to us with what they think is the best form of support and if that's their decision, then we will support that decision."

Dalton, Miles Welsh, Gerda Hazenberg, Jeffery Kincaid and Steven Voytilla said board policies and values set the stage for schools being accepting environments though none proposed any changes or new initiatives.

Simon Taylor said, in his experience, Yellowknife Catholic schools are very open and accepting.

Lee Stroman said it was the board's role to provide a model of tolerance but not to take the initiative on programs or workshops.

"I think it's the role of the board not to do that work but to model it," he said.

Simpson-Hacala was the only candidate to agree more work needed to be done to help gay and lesbian students feel supported and welcome at school.

"In my opinion, the piece that is missing ... is having the conversation as a district at the board level and then filtering that down through the organization so everybody understands that, in my opinion anyway, that everyone should have a wonderful experience at school no matter who they are," said Simpson-Hacala.

Erin Currie was unable to attend the forum due to obligations with work but encouraged voters to contact her with any questions or discussion points they may have.

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