Will the province have to step in to solve TDSB standoff?

TORONTO – The work environment at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB)  is so “toxic” that the board chair has implored the the province’s education minister to take action.

Mari Rutka sent letters to Education Minister Liz Sandals and Premiere Kathleen Wynne outlining her concerns about the board’s dysfunction and specifically about the conduct of Donna Quan, the director of education.

The content of Rutka’s letter has not been made public but Sandals says she received it and will be meeting with the chair and other members of the board before the end of November.

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“Obviously when you have criminal charges, one person against another, in camera meetings reportedly that do or don’t happen – obviously I’m concerned when I have any school board that seems to have a level of distress,” said Sandals.

The distress was heightened at an October meeting when Rutka tried to hire outside legal counsel to offer advice on how the trustees could get access to school board documents – specifically Donna Quan’s contract.

WATCH: Education Minister Liz Sandals on TDSB tensions

Rutka and the trustees want to consult the contract in order to conduct Quan’s performance review. Rutka assumed she’d find the documentation in the chair’s office.

It wasn’t there. In fact, trustees say she found no employment records for Quan or any of the previous directors.

Rutka assumed the role of chair after Chris Bolton resigned suddenly and without a great deal of explanation in June of this year. Bolton negotiated Quan’s contract when she took over from Chris Spence who resigned his duties in January 2013 under a cloud of a plagiarism allegations.

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A number of trustees have told Global News there are a long list of unanswered questions about “the mess” Bolton left behind and the circumstances surrounding his sudden departure. They say it’s only coming to light now because Rutka has demanded accountability from the staff and Director Quan.

Stephanie Payne is a long time trustee who did not run for re-election. She says Quan is a major reason why she decided to leave the board.

Payne claims Chris Bolton “is still working behind the scenes – still working with Quan.” She supports Rutka’s call for the province to get involved.

Quan responded in a written statement without addressing the specific issues surrounding her contract.

“From time to time, the Director must be able to take a stand and not be deterred by the personal opinions of others. As always, I’m committed to ensuring high standards of achievement for all students and staff, and working and learning in a collaborative environment is key to this success. I’ve already had a conversation with the Ministry of Education and I welcome any opportunity to speak with the Minister.”

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To complicate matters, forcible confinement charges have been brought against trustee Howard Goodman. His accuser is Donna Quan. But the alleged incident happened about 10 months ago, creating accusations of political intimidation.

Payne says she heard Quan threaten Goodman in the midst of a chaotic meeting in October. She claims Quan screamed “I’m gonna get you. I’m gonna sue you.” It was shortly after the meeting that Toronto Police filed the formal charges.

Goodman’s lawyer has said he will vigorously defend the charges.

All of this happens as the board prepares to transition into a new term where half the board members are newly elected trustees.

Some of this rancor may be chalked up to bitterness among those who lost their re-election bids last month, including Mari Rutka, but one trustee who didn’t want to be identified said “Mari’s got nothing to lose. She only wants accountability – as we all should.”

The board’s next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 26.