A judicial review was set to start Wednesday in B.C. Supreme Court for two suspended Greater Victoria School Board trustees, but one of the trustees says there is a halt to the proceedings because a school district lawyer has developed COVID-19 symptoms.
The review could now be pushed back by six weeks, said trustee Rob Paynter.
“We remain optimistic that it won’t be a huge delay,” Paynter said. “I think everyone’s eager to get this over with.”
Paynter and fellow trustee Diane McNally were suspended in February for alleged inappropriate comments on social media that constituted bullying and harassment.
A third-party investigation found that Paynter and McNally made comments and criticisms aimed at district secretary-treasurer Kim Morris on Twitter.
The suspension lasts until October, when elections for the next school board are due to be held.
Both trustees contend the board has overstepped its authority and have created online fundraising pages to raise money to cover their legal costs.
