GREATER VICTORIA ( British Columbia) SCHOOL DISTRICT SUSPENDS 2 TRUSTEES OVER BULLYING AND HARRASSMENT.

Chandrayee Roy Choudhury, Canada:

The Board of Education for School District 61 (SD61) announced they have censured and suspended two trustees of their duties until October.

The trustees, Diane McNally and Rob Paynter, were accused by staff of harassment and bullying. A third-party investigation substantiated the allegations.

"Our staff deserve to come to work and feel that they can perform their duties in a safe space, and that is exactly why we have acted the way that we did," said Ryan Painter, Board of Education chair.

Two formal complaints were filed by staff concerning incidents that occurred in the summer of 2021, when Painter says the trustees allegedly made "disparaging comments" about staff in public.

"There must be zero tolerance for bullying in the Greater Victoria School District. All employees and students deserve to feel safe when they enter our schools and workplace," said SD61 in a statement.

During the suspension, Paynter and McNally will not be allowed to attend meetings in their role as trustees, or have access to confidential board information. The two trustees maintain the right to seek a judicial review of this decision.