5/19/2017PressuregrowsforYorktrusteetostepdownoverracialslur|TorontoStar

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PressuregrowsforYorktrusteetostepdown
overracialslur

Petition with more than 1,600 signatures calls for Nancy Elgies resignation

J.PhilipParappally,directorofeducationfortheYorkRegionDistrictSchoolBoard,apologiz
CharlineGrant,toherright,duringaboardmeetinginFORTHETORONTOSTAR)

ByNOORJAVEDNewsreporterKRISTINRUSHOWYQueen'sParkBureau

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esforAuror
5/19/2017PressuregrowsforYorktrusteetostepdownoverracialslur|
TorontoStar

Tues.,Jan.24,2017

A York Region trustee who admitted to using a racial slur must step
down for her complete disrespect of a black parent, demands a new
petition that quickly garnered more than 1,600 signatures.
Nancy Elgie was absent on Tuesday night during that York Region
School Boards regular meeting, but the Georgina trustee offered a
public apology that was read by the vice-chair, trustee Corrie McBain,
and made no mention of stepping down.
It is plainly unacceptable that anyone in public office would
intentionally use such a word to describe another person, Elgie wrote
in her apology, which said she was absent from the meeting for
medical reasons. That is why it is important for me to explain clearly
what happened not to excuse it, but so that you can understand,
and so I can in some way start to heal the harm I have caused.
In her apology, Elgie said when she made the comment in November,
she was still suffering from the after-effects of a head injury earlier in
the fall and struggled for words to identify parent Charline Grant,
who had previously filed a human rights complaint about alleged
discrimination facing her child. The words came out horribly
wrong.
The trustee said that she wanted to apologize earlier, but couldnt do
so because of an investigation. She has also asked the board to retain
an expert in equity and restorative justice to review this situation and
make recommendations on what I and we should do to promote
healing.
Elgie, who just last week issued a private, emailed apology to Grant
and fellow trustees for using the word n-----, in public after a meeting
last November, has faced mounting pressure to leave the board from
community members and the Vaughan African Canadian Association.
If the York Region District School Board has a zero-tolerance policy
for discrimination, how then can they allow Ms. Elgie to represent
them? says the online petition. Thus, we are calling for the
immediate resignation of Ms. Elgie for her violation of (policy) ... her
complete disrespect of a black parent and our community, and her
blatant use of the racist and violent slur n-----.
Parents attending the meeting Tuesday spoke about their experience
with racism and challenged the boards director of education, J. Philip
Parappally, who has largely remained silent, to respond.
We have been to so many of these meetings, and the director just
says and does nothing like he doesnt care, said Garth Bobb, Grants
husband.
It prompted a response from Parappally, who said: I am absolutely
sorry. It pains me and hurts my heart to hear your stories.
He added: I am available any time to meet.

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Grant said while she appreciates the apology, its not enough.
At this point, its beyond an apology, she said. We need people to
know there are solid consequences ... when people are racist. Whether
its a student, a teacher or a trustee, she said.
Grant said her complaint to the board does not involve any racial slur,
but rather discriminatory treatment her son faced at his high school.
Elgie did not respond to requests for comment.
The new school board chair, Loralea Carruthers, said that she has
heard from many concerned parents, but that she has no power to
force Elgie out.
I am truly sorry for the hurt this incident has caused. It was utterly
unacceptable, said Carruthers. I have had a conversation with
Trustee Elgie and believe that she understands the seriousness of her
actions, has learned from this experience and that her apology was
sincere, but I also know people are still rightfully upset and hurt by it.
That said, there is no provision to remove a trustee from her position
under Ontario law.
I have strongly urged my colleague to do what is required to make
this right because ... we need to work to ensure we hold ourselves
accountable and continue our focus on student achievement and well-
being.
On Tuesday, Carruthers said trustees want to sit down with Elgie and
figure out how to move forward.
In her private apology to Grant, Elgie said that she had not been
referring to Grant, but to the complaint she made to the board.
There is no excuse for what I said, only the explanation that I was
clumsily trying to refer to your concerns as reported in the media, not
to you personally, she said. As soon as my brain registered what I
had said, I was overcome with shock and dismay. I felt heartsick and
deeply ashamed to have said something so hurtful even
unintentionally and so foreign to the values I have held throughout
my entire life, wrote Elgie, 82.
It also sickened me that I could have reinforced the systemic racism
that so many have experienced in our society.
Elgies apology came shortly after the conclusion of an independent
investigation called by the board, after a small group of staff and
trustees overheard the comment and complained.
Normally, trustees are subject to a code of conduct complaint, which
must be brought forward by a fellow trustee. Under the code, a
trustee is investigated and can be sanctioned by colleagues.
However, in this case, Parappally, decided to pursue an independent
investigation under the boards Respectful Workplace and Learning
Environment Policy, intended for staff.

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TorontoStar
The subsequent report, which was finished three weeks after it was supposed to have b
with the staff who complained and with Elgie.
The York board is already in hot water with the province after a string of controversies
racist incidents and Islamophobia that were ignored, as well as a lack of transparency.
Education Minister Mitzie Hunter is in the midst of reviewing the boards response to
address racism and improve openness about trustee spending.

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