A teachers’ aide with the Pembina Hills School Division has been terminated with cause for speaking with the Western Standard about an earlier incident that had her suspended with pay..Jaime Gibert, a teacher’s aide in the school division for just over a year, said she was initially “written up” for submitting a COVID-19 notice of liability to both the school’s superintendent as well as the board of trustees..“I wanted them to read all the information I had put together,” Gibert told the WesternStandard in a December 6 interview..On November 29, within days of sending the notice of liability, Gibert was given a letter of reprimand by the superintendent of the school accusing her of not following the “proper channels of dispute resolution,” as outlined in section 7 of AP 40-47 Employee Code of Conduct. .Gibert said she’d been complying with the mandatory COVID-19 testing required of unvaccinated staff, but admitted when she submitted her negative results via e-mail, she always communicated she was doing so “under duress and without my consent.”.The following Friday, Gibert said she was again called to speak with the superintendent who informed her she was being suspended due to allegations she’d been neglecting her assigned duties while “engaging on social media during the workday.”.Gibert told the Western Standard the allegations were false and said she believed the school division were looking for a way to fire her because, “I have been outspoken towards these unreasonable mandates.”.Gibert was told she would be contacted by the superintendent pending the outcome of the investigation..The Western Standard requested a comment from the assistant superintendent of Human Resources, Brett Cooper, but was denied..On Monday, Gibert was handed a letter of termination with cause citing Gibert’s interview with the Western Standard stating it was in “direct contravention” of the letter she was provided on November 29..“So, I got fired today because I talked to the Western Standard,” Gibert said in an e-mail Tuesday evening..Gibert was also informed she “defamed” Pembina Hills School Division by “indicating the division was vindictive” and would suspend her due to her stance on COVID-19, an accusation rejected in the termination letter..The termination letter also stated Gibert’s actions contravened Sec. 3 of AP 40-47 that states: “Employees shall exemplify high standards of honesty and personal integrity and shall be an advocate for the Division in the community.”.Gibert said she still believes the superintendent was “just looking for any way to fire me because I express my opinions which are different from his.”.The Western Standard again contacted Pembina Hills School Division for a comment but did not hear back in time for publishing..Melanie Risdon is a reporter for the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
A teachers’ aide with the Pembina Hills School Division has been terminated with cause for speaking with the Western Standard about an earlier incident that had her suspended with pay..Jaime Gibert, a teacher’s aide in the school division for just over a year, said she was initially “written up” for submitting a COVID-19 notice of liability to both the school’s superintendent as well as the board of trustees..“I wanted them to read all the information I had put together,” Gibert told the WesternStandard in a December 6 interview..On November 29, within days of sending the notice of liability, Gibert was given a letter of reprimand by the superintendent of the school accusing her of not following the “proper channels of dispute resolution,” as outlined in section 7 of AP 40-47 Employee Code of Conduct. .Gibert said she’d been complying with the mandatory COVID-19 testing required of unvaccinated staff, but admitted when she submitted her negative results via e-mail, she always communicated she was doing so “under duress and without my consent.”.The following Friday, Gibert said she was again called to speak with the superintendent who informed her she was being suspended due to allegations she’d been neglecting her assigned duties while “engaging on social media during the workday.”.Gibert told the Western Standard the allegations were false and said she believed the school division were looking for a way to fire her because, “I have been outspoken towards these unreasonable mandates.”.Gibert was told she would be contacted by the superintendent pending the outcome of the investigation..The Western Standard requested a comment from the assistant superintendent of Human Resources, Brett Cooper, but was denied..On Monday, Gibert was handed a letter of termination with cause citing Gibert’s interview with the Western Standard stating it was in “direct contravention” of the letter she was provided on November 29..“So, I got fired today because I talked to the Western Standard,” Gibert said in an e-mail Tuesday evening..Gibert was also informed she “defamed” Pembina Hills School Division by “indicating the division was vindictive” and would suspend her due to her stance on COVID-19, an accusation rejected in the termination letter..The termination letter also stated Gibert’s actions contravened Sec. 3 of AP 40-47 that states: “Employees shall exemplify high standards of honesty and personal integrity and shall be an advocate for the Division in the community.”.Gibert said she still believes the superintendent was “just looking for any way to fire me because I express my opinions which are different from his.”.The Western Standard again contacted Pembina Hills School Division for a comment but did not hear back in time for publishing..Melanie Risdon is a reporter for the Western Standard.,.mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
