The Bluewater District School Board trustee due to face sanctions for breaching the board’s code of conduct has filed a response to the decision.
Earlier this month, the board voted to censure Brockton & South Bruce Trustee Derrick Long and bar him from sitting on all board committees for 90 days at a special meeting.
Long was given 14 days to respond to the sanctions, which were recommended by an Integrity Commissioner who looked into five complaints filed against Long for several alleged incidents.
If the board does finalize the sanctions, Long would be suspended from sitting on committees starting Jan. 6, 2025, but would still be able to attend the monthly regular meetings.
Long says he has requested the sanctions be dropped entirely, or the censure be cancelled and the 90-day suspension begin on Dec. 2, 2024.
“In my amends letter to the board and general public, I have clearly taken responsibility,” Long says. “I have rough edges to smooth, bridges to build and fences to mend.”
But Long also made claims about other trustees engaging in “hurtful conduct” towards him and two other newer trustees on the school board.
The Bluewater Board of Trustees can now choose to confirm, vary or revoke the sanctions against Long after reviewing his formal response letter.