York Catholic board chair disciplined for ‘profane and disparaging’ comments about education director - Toronto Star
Integrity commissioner rules Iafrate violated trustee code of conduct. Calandra calls the infighting 'so frustrating.'
The York Catholic District School Board launched the investigation following complaints by fellow trustees.
The York Catholic school board’s integrity commissioner has imposed penalties on board chair Maria Iafrate after ruling she violated the trustee code of conduct when she used “profane and disparaging language” against the board’s former director of education and that her behaviour “contributed to a toxic environment.”
Launched following complaints by fellow trustees, the investigation examined allegations against Iafrate, including that she overstepped her role, engaged in “operational interference,” questioned staff integrity and made inappropriate public statements to staff, including calling the director of education a “f—-ing piece of s—-” and saying she wanted him fired.
Integrity commissioner Daniela Corapi found three instances, out of nine investigated, where Iafrate had breached conduct rules, penalizing her with mandatory governance training and by docking her pay.
The commissioner had directed the board supervisor to publish the findings and sanctions on the York Catholic board website. The report, issued in August, was only made public Wednesday, in part not to interfere with the election, according to board spokesperson Mark Brosens.
“The sanctions imposed by the Integrity Commission are in the process of being fulfilled,” Brosens said. Iafrate could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The Ontario government seized control of the York Catholic board in March, just weeks after Education Minister Paul Calandra warned trustees they had to fix board finances and dysfunctional governance. At the time, Calandra said longstanding infighting within the board had cost it hundreds of thousands in legal fees.
The York Catholic school board’s integrity commissioner has imposed penalties on board chair Maria Iafrate.
Calandra said Thursday that the behaviour outlined in the report “is one of the reasons why we took over that board.”
While the board also had financial challenges, “it’s another one of those boards where they were spending so much time (dealing with) trustees fighting each other,” he told reporters at Queen’s Park.
“As you get through that report, it just becomes so evident. It just irritates you; it is just very, very frustrating.”
Trustees“ say ‘we’re in it for the kids’ — no, in some of these boards they’re in it to fight each other,” he added. “It’s so frustrating; it’s not why they’re supposed to be there. And I wish I could say that was the only board where this happened.”
York Catholic trustees Elizabeth Crowe and Theresa McNicol each brought separate complaints against Iafrate, alleging she breached numerous codes of conduct.
Iafrate was acclaimed in her Richmond Hill ward in Monday’s election.
Crowe, a longtime York Catholic board trustee, retired this summer, while McNicol, who has held her position for almost 30 years, was re-elected as a trustee for Newmarket, East Gwillimbury and Georgina. The investigation was launched in January.
Education Minister Paul Calandra says he wants to make sure they’re governed by the code of conduct.
