York school board confirms Terrell-Tracey’s breach of trustee conduct

Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey submitted request for reconsideration regarding YRDSB’s latest punitive actions against her

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 25, 2019
Dina Al-Shibeeb

York Region District School Board passed motions Sept. 24, confirming that Elizabeth Terrell-Tracey, trustee for East Gwillimbury and Whitchurch-Stouffville, breached the trustee code of conduct despite her attempt to dispute the latest punitive action against her.

On Sep. 9, Terrell-Tracey submitted her request for reconsideration regarding the YRDSB Aug. 27 decision, which included extending already-imposed sanctions on the trustee for an additional 12 months, until the end of June 2021.

At the time, YRDSB also extended another sanction by not allowing Terrell-Tracey to attend any elementary or secondary school graduations in her capacity as trustee until the end of June 2021.

Controversy surrounding Terrell-Tracey started to brew in October when posts from her Facebook account focused on the heritage of her opponent in the trustee election, Lena Singh, who is Guyanese.

YRDSB does not have the power to suspend pay or fire any trustee, since trustees are elected. In late 2018, the school board asked the province for more power to at least suspend the pay of those found guilty of breaches of conduct.

The school board has previously told Torstar that "trustee Terrell-Tracey may request reconsideration of the board’s decision", and the board of trustees must address such a request within 14 days of receipt.

"As part of the complaint protocol, and outlined in the integrity commissioner’s report to the board, trustee Terrell-Tracey had an opportunity to address the allegations, but chose not to," the board said.

In June, the board placed a slew of sanctions on Terrell-Tracey to limit her power, including barring her from private, public and advisory meetings.