A member of the Hanover School Division (HSD)'s Board of Trustees, is being suspended.
In a unanimous vote on Tuesday at a public board meeting, six attending trustees approved the decision to suspend trustee Danielle Funk for six weeks, effective September first this year, without pay.
Funk is one of four trustees that were elected to represent ward three in the division, which is Steinbach. There are nine trustees on the board in total, including Funk.
During the meeting, Jeff Friesen, the board's chair, read that Funk "did not act as prescribed" under the HSD's Board Member Code of Conduct. Specifically, sections A.2, and A.6 (a) and (b).
Section A.2 states that trustees will "Support the legitimacy and authority of Board decisions, irrespective of the trustee’s personal position on the issue. No question once decided shall be reversed without notice from at least one meeting to another. No question shall be reversed without a two-third majority voting for the reversal."
Section A.6, subsection (a), of the policy reads that a trustee will "listen respectfully and with an open mind to the full range of opinions on each matter before them, and make their decisions based on the merits of these varying opinions; and a) Treat Board colleagues, divisional and school staff, students and community members in a respectful and courteous manner, and refrain from using abusive or denigrating language in any dealings with them."
Subsection (b) adds that a trustee will, "refrain from expressing opinions and/or sharing information through social media that would discredit, undermine or compromise the integrity of the Board."
The board voted to impose a sanction under the Public Schools Act (PSA) section 35.2(1)3.
There was no discussion of the motion during the allotted time, and the meeting was adjourned immediately afterward.
In a Facebook post the day after the board meeting, Funk informed followers of the decision.
She closed the post by saying, "At this time the only comment I can give is that I have, and do, take my role as a trustee seriously. This will continue when I am able, and allowed, to return to my duties representing the constituents of HSD."
Friesen says, "these types of decisions are made to bring unity to the board."
This suspension comes while Funk is on a board-approved personal leave, which was unanimously supported in a vote on May 6.