INNISFAIL - A Court of King’s Bench justice has upheld a decision made by the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) board of trustees to sanction former trustee Monique LaGrange following a controversial social media post last year.
The decision by Court of King’s Bench Justice Cheryl Arcand-Kootenay was issued on Thursday, Nov. 14. A copy of the ruling was obtained by the Albertan.
“I find the board’s decision reasonable and confirm it,” Arcand-Kootenay said in the ruling. “They (the sanctions) are consistent with the concerns of the board and members of the division. It is clear that they are intended to prevent further harm and also reconciliation through education.”
On or about Aug. 27, 2023, LaGrange made a post on her social media featuring an image of children holding a Nazi flag with swastikas above an image of other children holding a Pride flag.
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The post was accompanied by the wordS “Brainwashing is brainwashing”.
The Pride flag is a symbol used to promote and support the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender community.
In a release issued Thursday, RDCRS said, in part, that, “Justice Arcand-Kootenay concluded that the RDCRS board’s decision was reasonable.”
In the same release, Murray Hollman who is the chairman of the RDCRS board, stated, “We are grateful for the court’s decision, as it reaffirms our commitment to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and staff.
“This judgment underscores the importance of our policies and our collective responsibility as trustees to uphold them in the service of our community.”
On Sept. 26, 2023, the RDCRS board passed a motion imposing sanctions on LaGrange, saying she was “censured from being part of all and any of board committees and is censured from attending and participating is all board committees.”
Those sanctions included LaGrange not being permitted to represent the board or school division in any official capacity, including board/school division functions, events, award ceremonies, conferences, assemblies, school masses, graduation events, school council meetings and speaking with news/media outlets.
LaGrange appealed the sanctions to the Court of King’s Bench, with the ruling by Justice Arcand-Kooteney issued Nov. 14.
In November 2023, LaGrange’s fellow trustees passed a motion disqualifying her from continuing to hold her elected position.
In a release issued at the time, the board said she was disqualified due to “violating sanctions issued on September 26, 2023 and further violations of board policy and the Education Act.”
Specifically, the board said LaGrange made a social media post and gave interviews that violated sanctions imposed by the board.
“As a result, Trustee LaGrange is hereby disqualified under section 87(1)(c) of the Education Act and Board Policy from remaining as a school board trustee.”
LaGrange has appealed her disqualification. A ruling on that matter has not yet been issued.
The 10,400-student RDCRS includes schools in Olds and Innisfail.
