At the end of October 2010 former Supt. Richard Harvey parted company with Pembina Hills sooner than anticipated. Did he resign or was he terminated? PHRD has never said.
Now little over a year later, Harvey’s replacement Egbert Stang is no longer with the division. Did he resign or was he terminated? Again, no answer.
In the wake of Stang’s departure, the rumour mills have gone into overdrive.
The refusal of Pembina Hills to shed any light on why Stang left has fuelled much speculation.
Rumours, speculation and gossip thrive on an information void, creating a toxicity that can be far more damaging than transparency.
In the haze it is hard to know whether absolute secrecy is a reflex reaction that will be modified in the coming days. Let us hope so.
Nobody is asking for Pembina Hills to reveal all, but a few well-chosen words would narrow the boundaries of speculation.
The four-sentence media release that Stang’s last day with the division was Dec. 4 sounded brutal in its terseness. It left an ugly impression. Even some acknowledgment of Stang’s service – was a simple thank you too much? – would have softened the edges.
Every human being, whatever his or her perceived failings, deserves respect. Christmas is usually a reminder of this.
There are also ethical and moral dimensions at play.
PHRD is not a private club. It is a public body in whose charge rests the direction of education in the region.
Hopefully it will not adopt a bunker, this-is-nobody’s-business-but-our-own, mentality.
Everybody – not least parents whose children attend local schools – has a vested interest in what is happening with Pembina Hills.
As far as possible, people are entitled to know what is going on. The argument that this is a personnel matter and that confidentiality is paramount seems flimsy when weighed against public accountability.
Yet the scales should reflect that this is not only a story about one man’s career. It is about a school division, education and public funds.
It is about the judgment of community leaders.
It is in everybody’s interests that PHRD succeeds.
This paper has been very supportive of the division. Anyone who attends PHRD meetings cannot help but be impressed. Not only is there a clear sense of purpose and a desire to do what is best for the area’s children, but trustees and administrators seem to gel. There is a camaraderie and sense of fellowship that is important to good decision-making.
Stang seemed to be a good fit. He was approachable and appeared well informed. The fact he attended the division’s Dec. 3 Christmas party in Westlock adds to the mystery.
So what happened?
Last week’s developments have shocked the community, creating the danger of a breach in public confidence.
To make matters worse it has emerged that a year-old investigation into a fraud allegation at Pembina Hills is still active, and not complete as previously reported.
Fortunately Pembina Hills has plenty of talent in its ranks, including acting Supt. Colleen Symyrozum-Watt.
She has the right attributes to succeed Stang, should she wish to take on that role if PHRD offers.
It is hard to imagine anyone with safer and more capable hands.
