The Bluewater District School Board is preparing to censure Trustee Derrick Long following findings that he violated several sections of the board’s code of conduct.
During a special meeting on November 5, trustees voted to bar Long from all board committees for a 90-day period, starting January 6, 2025, should the decision proceed as expected. This measure is based on recommendations from ADR Chambers Integrity Commissioner Michael Maynard, who investigated five complaints against Long filed by Board Chair Jane Thomson, Vice-Chair Jan Johnstone, and a student trustee.
These complaints began surfacing in March 2024 and ultimately led to a detailed 56-page report by Maynard.
According to the report, Long’s actions included contentious social media posts and the release of confidential information. Some of Long's posts were deemed “harmful and needless,” with comments alleging "illness in Bluewater" and references to trustees being influenced by board leadership. The Integrity Commissioner’s investigation also found that Long disclosed sensitive information about legal expenses discussed during an in-camera meeting, violating confidentiality requirements.
The investigation further noted an incident from an April 2024 board meeting, where Long appeared on camera wearing a “straight Pride” shirt. During another meeting, he joined virtually while shirtless in a bathtub, explaining that technical issues with his computer forced him to fix his bathtub mid-session to avoid getting putty on his shirt. The report also details a handwritten letter from Long in February 2024 in which he claimed he was “rescinding and revoking” his signed oath to the code of conduct, a move the report says may indicate Long’s lack of understanding of a trustee’s duties.
Maynard's report acknowledges Long’s statement that he intends to modify his conduct going forward but notes that some of his behavior was “simply bizarre and inexplicable.” Maynard added that while Long expressed intent to improve, his actions were consistently “blatantly disrespectful” and beyond the role of trustee.
Long’s absence from the recent meeting means the sanctions await his written response, per Ontario’s Education Act, which gives him 14 days to respond. If he does not appeal the decision, the board will reconvene to finalize or alter the censure.
The complete investigative report is available here.
Long was elected to the role of English Public School Board Trustee for the Bluewater District School Board in 2022, earning 1,219 votes over his opponent's 997.