School board ponders options after new trustee’s death

By Jordan Merkley

BELLEVILLE – The Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is in search of a new trustee after the unexpected death of Larry Whitfield.

Whitfield was the trustee for southeast Hastings and passed away on Feb. 13, only months after being elected in October.

“Board members are having discussions on how to proceed, and a decision about the process to follow is expected by the end of this month,” said Kerry Donnell, communications officer for the board.

There are a few options for naming a new trustee in this situation, according to the board’s policy.

“One is that the school board hold a byelection, which is essentially a mini election,” Donnell said. “That will not likely be done due to the fact that the school board would be required to fund the entire cost, and it is cost-prohibitive.”

Another option is to offer the position to the previous trustee for southeast Hastings, Thelma Goodfellow, who lost to Whitfield in the 2014 municipal election.

And the third option is to advertise the role and interview candidates.

According to the Ontario Education Act, a replacement board member must be announced within 90 days of the position becoming vacant. Therefore the decision must be made by May 13.