The review of an unknown matter, which has had the Supt. of Pembina Hills Public Schools (PHPS) off work since the beginning of February, is ongoing.
In an e-mail, board chair Jennifer Tuininga said the ad-hoc sub-committee is continuing its review, though did not share any further details.
No motions pertaining to Colleen Symyrozum-Watt were passed during a board meeting in Neerlandia on Feb. 22.
Tuininga also confirmed that Colleen Symyrozum-Watt is being paid while she is away.
According to the 2015-2016 audited financial statements — which must list the remuneration for the superintendent as per the School Act — Symyrozum-Watt was paid $206,988 and received $36,522 in benefits.
Pembina Hills trustees passed a motion to create the ad-hoc sub-committee, which consists of Tuininga and trustee Annette Bokehfohr, during a special meeting on Feb. 1 at the offices of the Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA).
According to a set of minutes posted on the Pembina Hills website, the ad-hoc sub-committee was created in response to Matter 2017-001. The nature of that matter was not identified.
The ad-hoc committee was authorized to issue a notice of suspension to Symyrozum-Watt, seek information and assistance from regional office administration and retain and instruct legal counsel and consultants as deemed appropriate.
It was also authorized to file one of more complaints with any authority, including the commissioner appointed under the Public Interest Disclosure Act (Whisteblower Protection Act) and the registrar under the School Act.
Lindsay Harvey, press secretary for the Minister of Education, said the registrar has the legislative authority to issue teaching certificates on behalf of the minister.
She said complaints regarding the conduct of teachers who are not active members of the Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) would be processed through the Office of the Registrar.
All Alberta superintendents must hold a teaching certificate in this province but are not active members of the ATA.
As such, “the registrar’s office is responsible for overseeing complaints of alleged unprofessional conduct filed against a superintendent,” she said.
Tuininga has previously stated in the Feb. 7 edition of the Westlock News that because this is a personnel matter, they must treat the review with the utmost discretion.
In that same issue of the News, Symyrozum-Watt stated she was unaware of any personnel or performance issues relating to her position.
In her absence, assistant Supt. of facilities and transportation and employee services David Garbutt is filling in.
