HWDSB will use an 'alternative process' to explore whether trustees breached rules

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) trustees will use an "alternative process" to look into whether a recent investigation into equity and inclusion revealed that any of them breached their own code of conduct.

But what that "alternative process" looks like remains under wraps. And chair Dawn Danko would only say it "ensures procedural fairness is followed if any potential breaches of the code of conduct are considered."

Trustees voted during a two-hour special board meeting Tuesday to "further explore potential code of conduct breaches from the investigation report." But most of the meeting was in camera, so it's unclear what that "alternative process" is.

At issue, though, is a recent independent investigation that found four trustees in particular lacked a basic understanding of equity and inclusion. In some cases, investigators said, trustees singled out Ahona Mehdi, who was a student trustee at the time.

Initially, trustees voted not to sanction themselves, and to remove their names from a public report about the findings. The report referred to Alex Johnstone, Becky Buck, Kathy Archer and Carole Paikin Miller, but only Johnstone declared a conflict of interest. 

Last week, trustees voted to reconsider the decision to not punish them. Of the four, Paikin Miller was the only trustee to vote on that motion.

This week, the majority of the meeting was in camera, so there are few public details about the "alternative process."

Johnstone, Paikin Miller, Archer and Buck attended the meeting and in camera session, but when the public session resumed, they didn't vote.

Johnstone says she declared a conflict of interest and provided written notice to the chair, which is why she wasn't present when the public session restarted. The chair and the board has not confirmed if anyone, including Johnstone, declared a conflict of interest.

No sign of resignation

On Friday, unions representing HWDSB's elementary and high school teachers called on the four trustees to resign, but there's no indication they plan to do so. 

Mehdi said so long as the trustees remain on the board, "the only thing they're doing is trying to save face" by sanctioning them.

Rain Hye, a former HWDSB student trustee from the 2017-2018 year, said the in camera discussion shows a lack of transparency from the board.

"That is not transparency or accountability to the public," he said.

Danko ensured the board is committed to transparency and accountability.

"Unfortunately, trustees cannot share or comment on in-camera discussions or participation as per our governance rules," she said.

"Trustees remain committed to implementing all recommendations in the report that examines the issues raised."

Former student trustees warn future trustees

Mehdi and Hye were part of a panel from Hamilton Students for Justice on Tuesday which saw them reflect on their experience as HWDSB student trustees.

They say anyone who wants to become a student trustee should prepare for what they say they faced in the role.

"It's really intimidating being one of the only racialized people in the room," Mehdi said. "I was a 17-year-old brown girl sitting there with a bunch of old, white people. To be honest, It's really intimidating. The role is super tokenistic. A lot of things they'll say are obviously really racist and really oppressive but also just, as well as that, really patronizing."

"You're going to be told you have to speak a certain way, you have to move a certain way and you have to make small talk, and eye contact, and you can't stutter while you speak … as someone who has social anxiety, this was really stressful for me."

Hye said he would not want to wish what happened to him upon future trustees.

"I caution you, it's really hard, it's really traumatizing … I don't want to give anyone a false notion," he said.

Hye and Mehdi hope future student trustees push the board to be more progressive.

Read the full report here: