Brandon trustees reprimanded in relation to book ban uproar

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This article was published 28/06/2023 (827 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BRANDON  — Five of seven Brandon School Division trustees have been reprimanded in connection with recent heated debates over book bans, including two who praised a delegate who made an anti-LGBTTQ+ presentation.

The division said Tuesday chairperson Linda Ross, vice-chairperson Jim Murray and trustees Calistus Ekenna, Kim Fallis and Breeanna Sieklicki had been censured after a motion passed at Monday’s board meeting.

Resident Kathy Smitzniuk had made a presentation in which she asked that Murray, Fallis and Ross be reprimanded for their actions during a contentious May 8 board meeting. On that date, former trustee Lorraine Hackenschmidt demanded a committee be struck to review and potentially ban books containing LGBTTQ+ and sexual health content from school libraries.

Ross said Tuesday the reprimands will form part of the trustees’ record, but carry no additional penalty.

Sieklicki and Ekenna were censured for violating a bylaw that states board members may only ask questions for clarification after a presentation from a delegate.

At the May 8 meeting, both Ekenna and Sieklicki praised Hackenschmidt for making the presentation. Sieklicki implored Hackenschmidt and her supporters to continue to fight for a possible book ban.

“They didn’t just ask questions, they made statements,” Ross said.

Ross, Murray and Fallis were reprimanded for policy that states trustees must treat colleagues, division staff, students and members of the community with respect and refrain from using abusive language.

Ross said she was reprimanded for saying at a May 23 meeting that Hackenschmidt’s presentation contained material that “wasn’t very bright.”

Murray was reprimanded for saying presenter Mike Theriault had made bigoted remarks and that he should be ashamed of himself.

Fallis was censured after it was alleged she had used vulgar language toward members of the public after a board meeting.

“My hope is that we’ve all learned something from these events and that we will be more cognizant of policies and procedure and be more careful about adhering to them,” Ross said.

“The wish of the whole board (Monday) night in passing that motion was to make it possible for us to get past this division and be able to work productively again in meeting the educational needs of our community.”

Fallis later confirmed she had acted inappropriately and agreed with the decision to sanction her.

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“We had a very long discussion and the best thing for the school division, our schooling and the students is getting back to working together, being collegial and working for our students,” she said.

“I have to remember that I’m always a trustee, but at that moment I was a mom and I was protecting my child. It’s been a pretty emotional month for the entire board.”

Only trustees Duncan Ross and Blaine Foley were not censured. There are two vacancies on the board.

Ekenna, Murray and Sieklicki couldn’t be reached for comment.

— Brandon Sun