York Region public school board to replace Vaughan trustee with by-election

"Disgusted" say parents groups, over tonight's decision to replace Anna DeBartolo with municipal vote

Yorkregion.com
January 11, 2019
Kim Zarzour

York Region parents say they are 'disgusted' with a decision by public school trustees tonight to hold a by-election, after the surprise resignation of former board chair Anna DeBartolo.

DeBartolo, trustee for Vaughan Wards 1 and 2, submitted her resignation to the board Jan. 9, saying, "I am making this very difficult decision for personal reasons".

DeBartolo was ousted as chair in 2016 after the board’s 12 trustees voted to replace her with Loralea Carruthers, who represented East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouffville, in a secret ballot.

A trustee for more than a decade, DeBartolo was chair during a turbulent period at Ontario's third-largest school board.

For two years, the board was mired in incidents and allegations of racism, Islamophobia and financial incompetence, leading to an investigation by the Ministry of Education and the dismissal of former education director J. Philip Parappally.

DeBartolo was re-elected to the trustee position in the October municipal election, winning 4,437 votes to defeat runner-up Charline Grant, who earned 2,161 votes.

Grant is a parent who filed a human rights complaint alleging racial discrimination by school staff and who was called the N-word by former trustee, Nancy Elgie. After months of public pressure, Elgie apologized and stepped down.

Earlier today, parents' groups said Grant was the logical choice to replace DeBartolo.

The board had several options to fill the vacancy, according to a report presented to trustees at tonight's special meeting.

It could hold a byelection or, within 90 days, appoint a replacement -- who could be the runner-up (Grant), or someone else identified with help from an external consultant or through another appointment process.
If the board chose to use a byelection, the City of Vaughan has indicated the earliest possible date the vacancy can be filled is Apr. 26, according to the report.

“Trustees carefully considered the options and determined that holding a by-election would provide the residents of Vaughan with a fair process to democratically select their representative,” said Chair of the Board Corrie McBain.

But Todd Silverman, a member of York Region Kids Need Help, a grassroots group of parents who came together during the height of board controversies, argued Charline Grant was the logical choice to fill the position.He noted the byelection could cost $177,000, according to the board report, and when the board opted for that approach to replace Nancy Elgie, only 600 people voted.

“It makes sense to appoint the first runner-up and save all of us the cost of another election or patronage appointment,” he said.

Loralea Carruthers, who is now Ward 1 councillor in the Town of East Gwillimbury, agreed, tweeting, “the YRDSB has a long history of respecting the democratic process and appointing the runner up this close to an election. I don't know another board in the province that would not immediately appoint the runner up one month into the term. It's about public confidence.”

Parents on social media reacted quickly, and angrily to tonight's decision, noting it comes just three months after a  municipal election.

"I’m disgusted in this blatant waste of tax payer money. I guess there isn’t a school or a program that could use those funds," Silverman said on Twitter.

"I think Charlene should file with the boards integrity office on this. It's quite clear the reason for the by-election is to roll the dice and try to find someone the board is comfortable with. This is disgusting," Jason Koblovsky tweeted.

"It's a shame to waste so much money that should be used for students," said Anne Mason a parent and a member of the board's Equity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee. "How about we spend money on the students and address the equity issues we have at our board?"

DeBartolo did not respond to requests for comment, saying in her resignation letter she requests privacy at this time.

“I wish to thank the staff, families, constituents and especially our students who have and continue to inspire me.”