Windsor-Essex public school board to consider eliminating impromptu speakers from meetings

The Greater Essex County District School Board will consider no longer allowing last-minute speakers at its meetings — because of what board members describe as disruptive behaviour and security issues.

"I'm done with it. We don't have to do it," said Trustee Connie Buckler during a trustee question period on Tuesday night.

"I'm done with not feeling safe. Let's finally say we're done."

At the end of the meeting, Trustee Cathy Cooke gave notice of a motion to "remove the speakers' list from our agendas."

The speakers' list gives members of the public an opportunity to address the board about items that are not on the meeting's agenda. Signing up for the list is permitted until 6:45 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Speakers have a time limit of five minutes.

Cooke's notice came after the speakers' list segment in Tuesday's meeting resulted in the entire board leaving the room and a police officer intervening.

Argument over trustee code of conduct led to recess

The friction arose when a speaker who identified herself as Beth St. Denis attempted to call out individual board members for alleged violations of the trustee code of conduct.

"Trustee Ron Le Clair publicly berated and disrespected —," St. Denis began telling the board.

Board chair Gale Hatfield interrupted the sentence, but St. Denis attempted to talk over her and continue speaking at the podium. "I am giving examples of how the code of conduct was breached. I spent many hours preparing my speech and I would like to have my opportunity to finish what I have to say."

Hatfield said the trustee code of conduct is not enforceable by the public, and the speakers' list is not an opportunity to "name people."

With the mic turned off, St. Denis continued shouting at the board, saying she had a right to speak.

"No, you don't. This is our meeting," Hatfield retorted.

Trustee Ron Le Clair added: "There is no guarantee of freedom of speech in a private meeting."

Hatfield called for a recess. All trustees and administrative staff retired to a separate room, while a police officer spoke with St. Denis and about a dozen people in the public gallery.

St. Denis and her fellow attendees left the room before the meeting resumed.

"It's getting to be more problematic."

Later that night, Le Clair said the board's security measures are "quite frankly... not working."

Police intervention had previously taken place on June 25, when a special meeting of the board was held to determine sanctions against Trustee Linda Qin for code of conduct violations.

That evening, disruptive behaviour from people in the public gallery led to multiple police officers attending the building.

Also in June, reports by Ontario's ombudsman revealed that two GECDSB trustees had experienced death threats, a rock had been thrown through a board building window during a protest in September 2023, and "one or more people defecated outside of the building in view of staff members' office."

"I spent 30 years in policing, and I've been through a lot, but this position..." Le Clair lamented on Tuesday night. "I don't think anybody deserves to be treated the way we're being treated."

Hatfield said she has also heard concerns about the safety of student guests at the board's meetings. "It's getting to be more problematic," she added.

Public can address board as registered delegation

Eliminating the speakers' list would not mean the public has no avenue for addressing the board at their meetings: People can still apply to be a delegation to speak on specific items on a meeting's agenda.

Each item on the agenda can have up to three delegations. Delegations can speak for up to 10 minutes each.

Applying to be a delegation must be done the day before the meeting or earlier.

Le Clair told CBC that GECDSB meetings are "held in public, but they're not public meetings — if you understand the nuance. They're business meetings that are conducted for the public to view."

"There are expectations of decorum that need to be followed... When the chair makes a determination or a ruling, you have to respect the decision of the chair."

Le Clair noted that Tuesday's meeting had two new student trustees. "(It) was their first meeting, and I can tell you — They were scared. They were concerned for their safety."

Speakers' list a tool for public input

Another person on the speakers' list on Tuesday used her time to argue for the value of the speakers' list.

Salena Hamilton described the segment as "an effective tool" for the board to receive public input. "Let's make the most of the tools available to us," Hamilton said.

Asked by Le Clair what inspired her to talk about the speakers' list at Tuesday's meeting, Hamilton replied: "Because it's important to us."

"We understand that you have an agenda... Our concerns aren't represented on your agenda most of the time. Having a speakers' list allows us to go outside your agenda."