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Stang sheds no light on abrupt departure

Egbert Stang is done talking about his time as superintendent of the Pembina Hills school division.

Egbert Stang is done talking about his time as superintendent of the Pembina Hills school division.

Despite a pledge to provide a statement on his 12-month tenure and why he’s no longer the top bureaucrat at the school division, Stang recounted and will remain silent. He also would not say whether he quit or was terminated.

“I haven’t prepared a statement. I think I’ve said what I’m going to say and that’s where it’s at,” he said Friday, adding trustees and the deputy superintendent are the people who have the answers on his departure. “I mean, I just had completed a successful evaluation and so, that’s all I can say.”

A special hour-long closed-door meeting was held by trustees on Dec. 3 in Westlock — the day prior to Stang’s last day with the school division. The school division’s annual Christmas party was also held Dec. 3 in Westlock, of which Stang was in attendance.

Despite repeated attempts, board chairman Doug Fleming could not be reached to comment on whether the meeting had anything to do with Stang’s departure.

Stang said he was unaware that the meeting took place and is unsure what was discussed.

Minutes of the Dec. 3 meeting obtained by the Westlock News and Barr-head Leader, say trustees met at 4 p.m. and ended discussions at 5 p.m.

Of that time, 50 minutes were spent in-camera to discuss a personnel matter — the details of which are not available.

Upon the conclusion of the in-camera discussions, trustee Annette Bokenfohr made a motion to, “ … proceed on the personnel matter as discussed in-camera, pursuant to legal advice.”

That motion passed 6-0. In addition to Fleming and Bokenfohr, trustees Dale Schaffrick, Sharon Volorney, Sheri Watson and Kim Webster were at the meeting. Trustee Sherry Allen was not present.

Donna McColl, an Alberta Education representative, said making motions in-camera is normal and within the rights of any organization, especially when dealing with private information.

“The board is accountable for the privacy of the individual under the (Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy) act,” she said.

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