Another elected official has stepped down from the Greater Essex County District School Board, marking the third trustee resignation within a single year and raising serious questions about governance and spending priorities within the Windsor-Essex public education system.
A Pattern of Departures
Trustee Nancy Armstrong, representing Leamington and Pelee Island, submitted her formal resignation on November 4, which became effective November 7. In her resignation letter, Armstrong stated her departure followed a personal review of what she described as "deeply troubling information" stemming from the Kingsville school naming committee meetings.
Armstrong, who served as an elementary teacher for 25 years before being elected as a trustee in 2022, expressed particular concern about the board's financial decisions. She specifically criticized trustees who, despite being aware of the troubling information, chose to proceed with spending board funds on a restorative justice process.
Spending Concerns and Core Values
"What is most concerning is that trustees who were already aware of this information nevertheless chose to spend board funds — resources meant to support students in the classroom — on a restorative justice process that, now, in my view would be little more than a performance," Armstrong wrote in her letter to fellow trustees.
The resigning trustee had previously agreed to participate in this restorative justice process after being disciplined by her colleagues, but she announced in her resignation letter that she was withdrawing from that process. Armstrong emphasized that her service had always been guided by integrity, transparency, and putting students first as fundamental principles.
"These values are not optional — they are the foundation of public trust and ethical governance," she stated. "When those principles are compromised, continuing to serve becomes inconsistent with conscience and duty. I take this step not in resignation of those values, but in defence of them."
A Growing Trend of Resignations
Armstrong's departure continues a concerning pattern for the local school board. In September, long-time trustee Ron Leclair submitted his resignation effective September 30. While less specific about his reasons, Leclair noted that "the governance landscape for education has significantly changed" in his September 15 resignation letter.
Earlier, in November 2024, trustee Sarah Cipkar resigned citing "personal and professional responsibilities," explaining that her business required more attention. The three resignations within a twelve-month period represent a significant turnover in the board's leadership and raise questions about the stability and working environment of the region's largest local school board.
The consecutive departures of elected officials responsible for overseeing public education in Windsor-Essex County suggest deeper challenges within the board's governance structure that may require broader examination and reform.
