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y B= pa eel 5 Sr Ten tio, SCENE Pal a 4 - "WEEKEND STAR" ae ae ES EES FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2000 WL Ll mag NP Sg ma gp gt a, Oshawa trustee calls for Drew's resignation By Rik Davie Weekend Star The struggle between fundamentalist right-wing school trustees and their opponents on the Durham District School Board exploded at Monday night's standing committee meet- ing, when Oshawa trustee Susan Shetler called on board vice-chair Bobbie Drew to resign. Mrs. Shetler stopped the meeting before it began with the motion that read, in part: "l would like to Celebrate. completed YOU'RE INVITED To join us on Saturday afternoon in welcoming Fraser Cooke to our company. Fraser is a Goldsmith with 17 years experience in Europe and South Africa. * Wine & Cheese, Coffee & Desserts Served from 2-5 p.m. move that the vice-chair (Mrs. Drew) resign her chair due to the discriminatory remarks at the Sept. 18 meeting directed at a select Christian group of fellow trustees." The remarks apparently stem from a statement read into the record by Mrs. Drew, Scugog's trustee, after a night of heated debate over the presence of the Harry Potter series of chil- dren's books in Durham schools. After a successful motion to reinstate the books that night, Mrs. Drew read a pre- pared statement that drew catcalls from some of those present for the debate. "We are coming up to a municipal election," said Mrs. Drew on Sept. 18. "I urge the public to ask the questions when candidates come to your door seeking the position of school trustee. Ask how the candi- date feels about the ban- ning of Harry Potter." \ \ dod 0 gb Mrs. Drew went on to say that candidates for school board should be asked questions about why they want the post. She then spoke to potential candi- dates. "To the trustee candi- dates, in particular the slate of Christian candidates: If you feel that your beliefs are right and should be imposed on the public edu- cation system, then | chal- lenge you - and | urge you - to clearly explain your a su aa wd agenda to everyone, so that they know for whom they are casting a ballot." Board Chair Doug Ross pointed out to trustees that the statements made by Mrs. Drew were her own per- sonal views, and not made when she was chairing a meeting. But Mrs. Shetler refused to withdraw her motion, noting that, "the motion only asked her to resign. She is free to refuse." Superintendent of Education Craig Burch, who advises the board on proce- dural matters, said a motion of this type should be made at the regular board meet- ing, and would require a clear two-thirds majority to be heard. Uxbridge-Brock trustee Nancy Loraine took offense at the wording of the motion, and was quick to call on Mrs. Shetler for clarification. "I would really like to be clear on this , please: When you mention a select group of Christian trustees, who is meant by that?" said Mrs. Loraine. "I guess what I'm asking is, who is meant by this select group, please, am | included or excluded from this select group (Mrs. Shetler) is speaking of?" Mrs. Shetler sat stone- faced as the question was repeated at her request, and then did not answer it at all. The trustee called the statements made by Mrs. Drew "slanderous" and was silenced only when Mrs. Drew - who had passed the gavel by this time - called a point of personal privilege. After a call by Whitby trustee Liz Roy for a recess, trustees retreated from chambers. When they retumed to the debate it was decided to postpone the motion to the Oct. 16 regular commit- tee meeting. When the meeting closed at nearly 10:45 p.m. Mrs. Shetler refused to com- ment to the press on any of her statements, and left the building. Trustee Loraine said that she intended to ask Mrs. Shetler again who she means by a "select group of Christian trustees." "I asked the question, and yes, | expect to get an answer to that," she said. Mrs. Drew said afterwards that she was surprised by the motion. ~ "She (Shetler) said the remarks were personal and directed against some trustees, and they were not," she said. "It was nothing more than a call on all candi- dates, including the only special interest group that | am aware of who regularly files a slate of candidates |, the Christian slate, to be open with voters during their campaigns," Mrs. Drew said. "I fail to see how having a well-informed constituency who ask questions can do anything but improve the system." Mrs. Drew is currently seeking the regional council seat for Scugog against first- time regional candidate Ken Carruthers. Mrs. Shetler is known for surprise motions at the board, and has in the past asked for a list of schools which have condom machines (there are none), and moved a motion that O Canada be used to start school days (it already is). She also proposed a motion two years ago that asked that the winter school break be officially called "the Christmas Holidays". All these motions were either withdrawn, or failed to pass. MAT RENTALS Sv ---- i or call 1- Lindsay DRY CLEANERS ~ PICK-UP & DELIVERY AT HOLY SMOKES REID'S INDEPENDENT GROCERS 800- hy Geis, 3 8 WEDDING GOWNS DRAPERY 798-340 x CEB re TE 8 RG Ne i Ne TL TERR v