NPA trustee Ken Denike has sent a letter to Education Minister George Abbott asking for an investigation into the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»School Board's decision to hire a public relations and media specialist with links to Vision Vancouver.
Kurt Heinrich, who was appointed last week, worked and volunteered for Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»for two years and wrote politically motivated Twitter posts criticizing the NPA.
"While the optics of the new hire raises many legitimate questions themselves-particularly as we are heading into a politically sensitive period with the municipal election and collective bargaining-the process that led to this decision have raised more," Denike wrote in his letter to the minister. "More specifically, I am very concerned that the [Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»Board of Education] Chairperson Patti Bacchus has put herself into a conflict of interest by involving herself in the hiring of Mr. Heinrich for this high profile VSB position."
Denike wants a review to assess whether Heinrich disclosed his work with Vision on his resume, if Bacchus interfered with the hiring, and if Heinrich's experience and qualifications are superior to the 20 other candidates who were shortlisted for the job.
Board chair Patti Bacchus, a Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»trustee, said there's no basis for an investigation and Denike knows that. She said she's confident there were no irregularities and that the competition was open and fairly conducted and supported by superintendent Steve Cardwell. Bacchus maintains Denike is trying to stir up controversy for his own political agenda.
"If the minister of education has time to take this on that would be great. There is absolutely nothing out of the ordinary in this hire. He's just frankly making much ado about nothing, trying to stir up some politics," she said.
A spokesperson for the ministry said Thursday that the letter hadn't been received, but Abbott has been clear that staffing is a responsibility of school districts and it's not appropriate for him to be involved.
Meanwhile, NPA trustee Carol Gibson is also criticizing the hire, as has NPA trustee hopeful Fraser Ballantyne, a former VSB employee.
Gibson, who isn't running in the November election, said the political role of the board and the professional roles of employees must be separate and distinct. "Further, it is essential that civil service positions do not become so politicized that service to the public is compromised. With this appointment, the separation of political and professional is compromised," she said in an email to the Courier.
Even if Heinrich severs all ties with Vision Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»political activity, gives up his membership in the party, and attempts to communicate in a non-partisan manner about issues facing the school board, Gibson maintains the communication may remain suspect and tainted by his previous political commitment and work to support Vision Vancouver.
Others argue a person's past political involvement shouldn't interfere with employment opportunities.
Vision trustee Mike Lombardi said he's looking forward to Heinrich joining the school district.
"Anybody that applies for a job-as long as they disclose their background and information and have the skills for the job, I think it's fine. Obviously, everything was disclosed in the interview and on the CV so I don't see a problem with it," he said.
"As far as going to the Ministry of Education, I don't see what kind of interest a minister of education would have in the matter. It's a personnel matter."
Twitter: @Naoibh
