Parents demand resignation of York school trustee over use of racial slur

Demands for a York Region District School Board trustee to resign after using a racist slur led to some tense moments at a Board meeting on Monday night.

Parents, trustees, and even the school board chair are calling for trustee Nancy Elgie to resign after she used a racial slur to describe the black parent of a student.

But Elgie is refusing to step down.

On Monday night her son delivered a statement, where Elgie offered an alternative form of punishment.

“I propose a voluntary sanction where I be prohibited from participating in all board meetings for a period of three to six months if my fellow trustees authorize it,” Stewart Elgie read, on behalf of his mom.

That led to cries of “No!” from the packed crowd.

Parent Garth Bobb said letting Elgie off the hook that easily sends the wrong message.

“Just like (we teach) our children, when you do something wrong you apologize, but you still have to face the consequences of your actions,” he said.

Parents have been demanding Elgie’s resignation for months and say the board has been slow to react.

Some parents are also calling on Director of Education Philip Parappally to resign over his handling of the situation and wider allegations that the York board is ignoring racism in its halls.

At Monday’s meeting, the board also talked about creating an independent integrity commissioner and a trustee code of conduct.

Elgie, who wasn’t at the meeting, has apologized.

In a statement her family blamed the remark on a head injury she suffered in the fall.