Letter: Former librarian says BRSC dismissed her for no substantiated reason

Dear Tofield Families and Friends,

I feel that I need to explain why I am no longer the librarian at C. W. Sears school. It is time for me to speak my truth.

On Monday, November 5th, 2012, I suddenly became very ill. At approximately 10 a.m. a searing pain invaded my chest. I continued through the day but by early afternoon I knew something was very very wrong. As soon as the school day ended, I immediately went to Emergency at Tofield Hospital. I had a fever of 40.+ I have never been sick – so this sudden onset of bacterial pneumonia was frightening. I tried to keep in touch with staff from home, I tried to continue to serve and support CWS electronically, but my access to CWS e-mail and my BRSD files was turned off shortly after I became ill. I went to the building one evening, when I had help, as I wanted to pick up my sweater and shoes. My FOB key did not work to unlock the door. I decided to focus on getting better and worry about these mysterious developments later… more

… I was cleared by my medical team, to return to CWS and my position as Librarian for August, 2013. Two days before returning to work, I was called in for a meeting at BRSD central office (ironically on my birthday, August 28). I was expecting to be updated on what had happened while I was on medical leave, an explanation of why my FOB was turned off and why access to my files and e-mail was blocked. Instead, a letter of resignation was placed in front of me. It had been prepared for me ahead of time. I was told that if I did not sign it, I would be terminated and ‘they’ would make sure I would never work (in a school) again. I did not sign. I was fired effective immediately. My health coverage was also turned off immediately. I left the meeting confused and heartbroken….

For more see the July 1/14 issue of the Tofield Mercury