Court upholds school board’s decision related to code of conduct violations appealed by County trustee

Rachael Prinzen

The Ontario Divisional Court has upheld the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board’s decisions related to two Code of Conduct violations appealed by trustee Rachael Prinzen.

The Court affirmed the board’s processes and determined the existing sanctions served by the trustee to date were adequate.

On May 9, 2024, the court file reveals the applicant e-mailed various individuals—including the then-Minister of Education, parliamentary assistants and members of Provincial Parliament—raising several concerns about the alleged conduct of the board and certain board members. She attached 45 documents that the board claims contain substantial confidential board information.

On Oct. 18, Oct. 27, and Nov. 2, 2024, the court file further states applicant sent three e-mails that the board alleges contained personal information relating to the current and former Director of Education and confidential information relating to the board’s audit committee. She sent these emails to individuals who, according to the board, would not otherwise have received this information.

In November 2024, the North Prince Edward County trustee, received a 90-day suspension after an Integrity Commissioner found she had breached the School Board’s confidentiality and information processes. She was barred from attending all board and committee meetings for a period of 90 days beginning Jan. 6.

In May 2025, the commissioner found Prinzen had breached Section 5 of the Code, again for failing to keep confidential information. She was banned from attending board and committee meetings for another 90 days.

“The applicant did not dispute she had disclosed confidential board information to third parties. Her submission that the decisions are unreasonable because they lack justification, transparency, intelligibility, and fall outside the range of reasonable outcomes permitted by the statutory scheme are bald allegations which have not been made out.”

Prinzen appealed the decisions and the Court reviewed the case last month. On March 10 the court affirmed the board’s processes and sanctions and awarded the board $7,500 in legal costs.

“We have maintained full confidence in the decisions of the Board of Trustees throughout this process,” said Dr. Kari Kramp, Chair of the Board. “The court’s decisive ruling validates the integrity of our governance. We can now put this matter to rest and return our full attention to student achievement and well-being.”

“While the board is pleased with the legal outcome, it is unfortunate that a judicial review was required. As this litigation was initiated by an individual trustee and not the board, there was a fiduciary responsibility to defend the board’s integrity and validity of governed processes.

A key component of the court’s decision includes upholding the board’s procedures and expectation of confidentiality. As a part of this ruling, specific documents will remain sealed and confidential. However, the court’s decision is a public document.