Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) has reprimanded trustee Monique LaGrange for sharing a meme on Instagram equating Nazi indoctrination to sexual minority education. .“As a result, as of today’s date and up to and including the Trustee’s Term of Office (‘End Date’), the Trustee is censured from being part of any and all Board Committees and is censured from attending and participating in all Board Committee meetings, including any part thereof,” said RDCRS in a Tuesday motion. .“This also includes any and all ASBA (Alberta School Boards Association) and ACSTA (Alberta Catholic School Trustees’ Association) meetings and conferences.” .LaGrange said on September 7 her Instagram story was about protecting children..READ MORE: EXCLUSIVE: Trustee says her post was about protecting children, involving parents.“I posted a story on social media that received a lot of attention,” said LaGrange. .“The Chair of the Board called me and asked me to take it down, which by then the story had expired and was already down.”.ACSTA President Harry Salm removed LaGrange as a director over the scandal on September 7. .READ MORE: LaGrange removed from Alberta Catholic School Trustees' Association.However, she said she had not been removed by the RDCRS. .ACSTA cited its commitment to a welcoming, safe learning environment..The RDCRS went on to say LaGrange will be barred from representing it in any official capacity at events and speaking with news outlets. It added she will cease making any public statements in areas touching upon or related to the Holocaust or sexual minorities, including by not presenting at meetings or conferences on these topics or speaking to news outlets about them. .Within 90 days of this motion, she will enroll in, at her own expense, and complete suitable sensitivity training about the Holocaust; challenges and discrimination faced by sexual minorities; and professional school trustee boundaries and appropriate use of social media, cultural sensitivity and human rights. .The RDCRS said she will provide it with a written certificate from the course providers stating she has completed this sensitivity training. It called the training “intended to remind the Trustee of her role and responsibilities as a school board trustee and to make better decisions in any further communications, including on social media.” .At the first public school board meeting following the completion of the 90-day period, she will issue a sincere public apology about the meme. This apology will recognize the inappropriateness of her actions and that she is sorry for offending anyone through them. .The censure referenced might be removed prior to the end date if the terms and conditions are met to the board’s satisfaction and if she acts in accordance with its policies and trustee code of conduct. .While she has been sanctioned, it said she can “bring forward any education-related issues for discussion and debate to the Board through the Board’s standard procedures and practices.” To ensure clarity, it welcomes open debate on these issues in accordance with its policy and procedures, including sensitive or difficult topics. .The RDCRS directed Superintendent of Schools Kathleen Finnigan to arrange a meeting with the director of education at the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center to discuss planning a workshop for trustees. Finnigan will meet with the Alberta Human Rights Commission to confirm an educational workshop for it. .She will hold another meeting to talk about a pastoral approach to support students in developing and understanding their sexual orientations. .The RDCRS will provide written reasons supporting the motion to LaGrange in 20 days. .“The Board Chair and the Superintendent of Schools may take those steps necessary to implement the terms and conditions set out in this motion," it said.
