New Westminster school trustee Casey Cook regrets treading into in-camera territory in a public forum.
During an interview with The Record Wednesday, Cook voiced concerns about a letter being circulated by retiring trustee Brent Atkinson in which he supports specific candidates for school board and states that Voice trustees have created "division and confrontation" at the school board instead of support and consensus.
Cook said it's inappropriate for Atkinson to support specific candidates as he has indicated he still wants to continue to be CEO of School District 40 Business Company after the election. He said that's "highly inappropriate", particularly given the fact that the auditor general's investigation into the school board "went highly into conflict of interest at the business company."
Cook now regrets commenting on the auditor general's investigation.
"I went into an area that was in camera. I shouldn't have done that," he said. "I was in error. I regret that. I did that. I will take ownership."
Cook doesn't regret his comments in general about Atkinson's letter, only those relating to the auditor general.
"I was in error when I made one small reference," he said. "I take ownership."
In a letter circulated to his supporters, Atkinson said the school board hasn't operated in a collegial, consensus-building manner in the past three years.
Auditor General John Doyle instructed his staff in 2010 to begin planning an audit of the School District Business Company, as well as further reviews of financial management and governance topics in the education sector. On Sept. 27, he met with school district officials in a closed meeting.
Because the auditor general's report is still a work in progress, district officials wouldn't comment about the specific issues discussed at the meeting.
"In July, representatives of the office of the auditor general concluded their examinations of the operations of the business company, and the business company board was pleased with the results, in which the auditor general did not find any mishandling of funds or information by the business company," Atkinson said during a Sept. 26 presentation to trustees about the School District 40 Business Company. "A significant point raised by auditor general, which the business company has maintained, is the fact that operations of the business company must be independent from any involvement in the school district's board of education. Cognizant that there is always room for improvement, the business company will incorporate some suggestions given by the auditor general to increase efficiency in its operations."
School board chair Michael Ewen said he couldn't comment on whether another trustee has inadvertently revealed in-camera information.
"If I say yes, then I'd be breaching in-camera (information)," he said. "Material that is in-camera has to stay in-camera."
Ewen said that anyone who breaches in-camera discussions or has admitted to having done so would likely have to apologize to the board. "This may be something the board will have to deal with at a later date."
