The provincially appointed supervisor of Toronto's Catholic school board announced this week that Angela Kennedy's board seat will remain vacant until the former Ward 11 trustee decides whether or not to appeal a recent conflict of interest ruling against her.
The Ontario Superior Court of Justice declared the East York/Toronto trustee seat vacant as of Aug. 19 after ruling Kennedy, a three-term trustee and full-time nurse, had breached the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act during lay-off discussion at a May 14, 2008 budget meeting. At the time, Kennedy's son Kevin was a part-time occasional education assistant and her other son Brian had just successfully interviewed as an occasional teacher for the board.While the Education Act requires that a qualified person be appointed to fill such a vacancy within 90 days of the court order, the TCDSB decided this week that such an appointment will not be made until the board has been advised that Kennedy will not appeal the court's decision.She was granted 30 days from Aug. 19 to appeal. In an interview with The Guardian this week, Kennedy noted her disappointment with the court's decision and said she was still considering an appeal. However, she also stated that she would not run again for the trusteeship in the upcoming Oct. 25 municipal elections.In an email to The Guardian, TCDSB spokesperson Mary Walker said that in the interim until a new trustee is appointed, that "school staff and board personnel will collectively address any concerns parents may have. They are welcome to call their school and board offices."