A Code of Conduct complaint against School Board trustee Rachael Prinzen earlier this year sparked an investigation. Ms. Prinzen has been found to have violated sections of the Code.

After a two-hour closed session last week, Ms. Prinzen’s fellow HPEDSB trustees emerged into open session with a series of motions. In a recorded vote, a majority agreed that Ms. Prinzen had breached a handful of sections of the Board’s Code of Conduct. 

She failed to “keep confidential information disclosed at a closed board or committee meetings, and divulged such confidential information without authorization by the Board as required by law.”

The Board agreed that Ms. Prinzen failed to comply with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act by disclosing confidential and personal information. 

It also found she failed to accept that authority rests with the Board and that a trustee has no individual authority other than that delegated by the Board.

Finally, she ran afoul of the Code when she failed to keep her comments issue-based and not personal. That means she made demeaning or disparaging comments about Board staff and/or fellow Board members.

Vice Chair Amanda Robertson said the investigator’s report, dated Oct. 24, revealed that information  “confidential to the board and in some cases, deeply personal,” had been revealed. 

The investigation will not be publicly disclosed. Deliberations on alleged breaches were held in closed session as permitted by sections of the Education Act.

Trustees Sandra Maracle, Kandis Hambly, Amanda Robertson, Stacey Lewis, Kari Kramp and Chair Shannon Binder voted in favour of a three-month suspension. Opposed were Ernie Parsons, Ron Speck and Erica Charlton.

Once notified in writing of the Board’s decision, Ms. Prinzen has 14 days to provide a written appeal.

Serving North Prince Edward County, Ms. Prinzen represents parents and students from CML Snider School, Kente Public School, Massassaga-Rednersville Public School, and Sophiasburgh Central School.