On Tuesday, December 19, the OCDSB Board of Trustees considered the findings and recommendations of the Integrity Commissioner into complaints related to contravention of the Board Member Code of Conduct policy P.073.GOV.
In a unanimous vote, the Board determined that Trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth breached Sections 3.5, 3.7, 3.8, 3.15, 3.17, and 3.18 of Policy P.073, Board Member Code of Conduct, and imposed sanctions as follows:
THAT, in accordance with Sections 4.41(b) of Policy P.073.GOV, Trustee Kaplan-Myrth be barred from attending the next regular Board meeting on 30 January 2023; and
THAT, in accordance with Section 4.41(c) of Policy P.073.GOV, Trustee Kaplan-Myrth be barred from sitting on the following committees of the Board for a 3 month period beginning 1 January 2024 to 30 March 2024 inclusive:
- Committee of the Whole
- Committee of the Whole Budget
- Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee
- Advocacy Strategy Committee
- Advisory Committee on Equity
No breaches were found with respect to any other Trustee.
Board Chair Lynn Scott commented that “The Code of Conduct establishes behavioural expectations for members of the Board and a review process when there are concerns about behaviour that is inconsistent with those expectations. To ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability in the Code of Conduct process, the Board established the independent office of the Integrity Commissioner. After a thorough investigation of these complaints, the Integrity Commissioner found that the actions and behaviour of Trustee Kaplan-Myrth were in contravention with several sections of the Code. The Board confirmed those findings and in accordance with its responsibilities applied sanctions. This was not an easy decision, but it is important that the Board hold itself to the standard of behaviour the community expects and deserves. As the Chair, I am committed to working with my fellow trustees to build trust and ensure the focus is on student learning and well-being.”
The OCDSB established the office of the Integrity Commissioner in April 2023. This was the first Code of Conduct complaint considered by the Integrity Commissioner.