Trustees at the Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) were at odds over the best way to replace two trustees who have recently resigned.
At the Tuesday board meeting, Armstrong's resignation as trustee for Leamington and Pelee Island was formally accepted, marking the second recent vacancy.
She resigned over the weekend, over a month after Ron LeClair, the trustee for LaSalle and Amherstburg, did.
Board chair Gale Simko-Hatfield had first recommended filling the positions by appointment, remembering the process followed last year to appoint Malek Makawi to the seat vacated by the resignation of Trustee Sarah Cipkar.
She urged her colleagues to take their time.
"I'm of the opinion that we stay calm, and rational, and transparent about what we're doing," said Simko-Hatfield. "There's no need to rush. We have eight trustees who are fully capable of representing the entire school board."
Her motion was rejected. A suggestion made by Trustee Kim McKinley to contact the second-place finishers in the 2022 trustees' election, to gauge their interest in running, was also rejected.
Following a recess, Makawi introduced a motion to open applications, then schedule interviews for a special board meeting on December 15. Trustees would vote on the replacements for LeClair and Armstrong the following day.
That motion passed unanimously.
Armstrong resigned due to lingering concerns over the naming process for Kingsville's new K-12 school. The board generated strong criticism from the school community after the name Erie Migration Academy was selected over two others suggested by constituents. Because of the public backlash, the name was adjusted to Erie Migration District School.
LeClair resigned due to concerns about potential changes to education oversight.
