Despite a recent motion that approved access to School District 51’s (SD51) board meetings general statement online, another motion was rejected that would allow the public access to the vote of each trustee.
At a recent school board meeting, trustees agreed to place the general statement of closed meetings online for public access. Currently, the agenda available to the public is different than that available to the board.
“My whole point is get more information to the general public,” said Trustee Vicki Gee, who pushed for this motion. “Of 13 other school districts, those around us and that are of similar size, separate minutes are already posted.”
However, while trustees have agreed to update the website with its general statement, information in regards to voting results for motions was dismissed.
“I want to amend the bylaw to record negative votes,” stated Gee. “I want for there to be a public record for the votes carried so people can tell who voted what.”
Amongst other districts, there has also been discussion about the pros and cons of having the results of the vote visible to the public, including issues of transparency and accountability.
Gee pointed out some facts about other school districts.
“Some school websites didn’t have any minutes that I could find, two districts I wasn’t able to get on at all and 33 districts only recorded results, either carried or defeated, and 19 districts give more information,” she said.
Superintendent of Schools Michael Strukoff mentioned the possibility of longer meetings.
Trustee Sally Garcelon was wary of the idea.
“I thought about this a lot and one of the issues that is really important to me is my rationale leading up to the decision I make,” Garcelon stated. “What’s often missing in yes or no answers that are recorded for the public is there’s no rationale given for why I voted.”
Despite suggestions of lengthier meetings and miscommunication the results of a vote may bring, Trustee Kris Sabourin was in favour of the motion.
“I’m in favour of this in the way that like all good groups, none of us should be thinking alike,” explained Sabourin. “What it does is it shows our diversity and it shows that we did have that debate.”
“This can get your constituents to talk to you and ask why you voted that way,” concluded Sabourin.
Chairperson Teresa Rezansoff was also reluctant to agree with the motion after spending much time changing the current procedural bylaw.
“My recollections are that it was in there that votes were to be recorded and it was taken out. I think we’re going back over ground that we spent a lot of time debating,” said Rezansoff. “As a board, we came to a decision and the ink is barely dry on this procedural bylaw.”
Tammy Shipton, District Parent Advisory Council Chair, disagreed with the final verdict.
“As a private citizen, I believe the board has made a mistake in dismissing this motion. I think the public would like to see who voted what and for what topic.”
For now, the public will have access to agenda minutes and the closed statement of closed meetings, but verdicts of who voted for who will remain within the boardroom.