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Trustees to decide fate of board chair Meeting called after school board learns of conviction for driving over legal alcohol limit
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 4, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Public school board trustees will be holding a closed-door meeting to decide the fate of Allan Shortt after learning the chair of Yk1 pleaded guilty to driving over the legal alcohol limit last week.
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 |
Vice-chair John Stephenson didn't provide a date and time for the meeting but did say it will be held sometime this week, with a statement to follow.
"There will be a conversation about (Shortt's future as chair)," he said. "And an announcement on his status as chair, and going forward as a trustee."
No one at Yk Education District No.1 appears to have known anything about Shortt's legal troubles until Yellowknifer began asking questions following his conviction Aug. 26 on a single count of driving while having a blood-alcohol level over 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood.
Shortt was arrested May 27 after RCMP received two separate complaints about a driver weaving through lanes, braking early and taking wide turns.
A breathalyzer test revealed a blood-alcohol content of 140 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood - nearly twice the legal limit.
Territorial court judge Bernadette Schmaltz fined Shortt $1,400 plus a $210 victims of crime surcharge, and banned him from driving for one year.
Stephenson said he first learned about the situation after reading an article in Friday's Yellowknifer.
"I'm disappointed that this happened in many regards, but he has asked for opportunity to speak to fellow trustees in the next few days," said Stephenson.
He said Shortt later contacted him and apologized. He also asked Stephenson to step in as chair until a meeting can be held.
Both Stephenson and fellow trustee Blake Lyons spoke of Shortt's good character and described the situation as unfortunate, but one the board will have to discuss.
Shortt was appointed to the school board mid-term in 2008, and elected in school board elections the following year. He was appointed chair by trustees in November 2010, which was reaffirmed following his re-election to the board last year.
"I have great respect for Mr. Shortt and appreciate working with him as our chair," Stephenson stated in an e-mail Tuesday.
There is also support for Shortt coming from outside the board, according to Stephenson.
"I've had people e-mail me saying they don't see any reason for it to be cause for him to step aside," he said.
Yk1's Trustee Code of Conduct states all trustees will conduct themselves "in a professional manner at all times while representing the board."
Trustees are also required to share information which is of interest to his or her fellow trustees. Board policy states any trustees who fail to comply with the policy may face sanctions.
When asked what Shortt's convictions mean for Yk1, trustee Blake Lyons said the board needs to look at all the facts.
"We have to be very careful how we proceed," Lyons said. "We have to see what rules and regulations apply, look at the board policies, and be consistent with the policies that we have in place."
Shortt did not respond to requests for an interview.
- with files from Daniel Campbell
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