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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Continued silence from former Yk1 school board chair Allan Short over his recent conviction for driving over the legal alcohol limit has prompted a high-placed call for his exit from school board politics all together.

Allan Shortt, chairperson of YK1 school board, was arrested May 27 after RCMP received two separate complaints about a driver weaving through lanes, braking early and taking wide turns. - NNSL file photo

Dene National Chief Bill Erasmus told reporters Shortt should quit the board following Tuesday night's district meeting where Shortt was a noticeable no-show.

"Tonight, I attended the meeting and there was no discussion ... and he didn't attend," said Erasmus. "So I don't know what the silence means.

"The public put their confidence in him to function in a way that is honorable and shows an example and I think he broke that trust - he breached that trust with the public."

Shortt pleaded guilty to having a blood-alcohol level of 140 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood - nearly twice the legal limit - on Aug. 26. He was arrested outside his home on May 27 after police received complaints about a driver weaving through lanes and taking wide turns.

The 58-year-old longtime Yellowknife resident admitted in court that he was too drunk to drive after attending a birthday party at the Black Knight Pub.

He also sent an e-mail to Yellowknifer apologizing for his behaviour, but has not spoken about his conviction publicly. Fellow trustees and Yk Education District No. 1 employees appeared to be in the dark about his legal problems before his court appearance last month.

Erasmus, husband of former trustee and one-time Yk1 board chair Reanna Erasmus, said Shortt should publicly admit that he has a problem and vow to get treatment.

"If he wants to stay on the board he should come forward, because he's lost the trust of people," said Erasmus. "He should come back after getting treatment, and living a different lifestyle."

At Tuesday's meeting, acting chair John Stephenson read a letter of official resignation from Shortt, adding that he couldn't attend the meeting because he was away in Edmonton on business with his employer Clark Builders.

Stephenson, who was officially voted in by trustees as acting chair Tuesday after stepping in for Shortt last week, called Shortt a valuable member of the school board.

"I know he's going to be an effective member of the trustees in whatever roles and committee involvement he gets," Stephenson said. "He brings to the group a tremendous amount of experience in the community. I'm really valuing his continued involvement with Yk1."

When asked whether or not Shortt was obligated to inform the board of trustees of his legal issues, Stephenson said trustees "knew when (they) needed to know."

"I view the conviction as a personal matter," he said. "He expressed tremendous regrets and apologies, and did not want this personal matter to be influencing and distracting us from what we really want to focus on, which is the education of students in our schools - so we're moving forward."

Expressing remorse isn't enough, said Erasmus. In order for Dene people in Yellowknife to be satisfied with Shortt's continued presence on the board, many of whom with children attending Yk1 schools, a public discussion needs to be held with the board, said Erasmus.

"Of course he felt remorse," Erasmus said. "Most people feel that way after going to the pub."

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