The appointment to the Saint-Hyacinthe school service center (CSSSH) of a former manager of Saint-Laurent high school in Montreal – where three people worked who are accused of sexual assault or sexual exploitation – arouses the concern of the union of teachers of this organization.
Patrice Brisebois, who is not facing charges and was principal of Saint-Laurent school from 2013 to 2020, was officially named deputy director general on May 16.
“Mr. Brisebois has distinguished himself by his rich experience as an education manager as well as by his strong pedagogical leadership”, writes in the notice of appointment Jean-Pierre Bédard, now general manager of the CSSSH, who worked twenty years at the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school service center (where Saint-Laurent school is located).
In addition to the criminal charges against three former staff members, Saint-Laurent School has been the subject of an administrative investigation by the Ministry of Education.
PHOTO FROM THE CSSSH WEBSITE
The new Deputy Director General of the CSSSH, Patrice Brisebois
The report of the investigation, completed in July 2022, was not given to journalists, who only received a press release. Six months later, Radio-Canada, which obtained the report after an access to information request, reported that it indicates that “several indicators of inappropriate behavior have been accumulated over the years without appropriately addressed, which instilled a negative culture within a basketball program”.
The report, also indicates Radio-Canada, notes that the dignity of the players has been compromised for 20 years, that the controls related to sports programs were inadequate and that the level of organizational confidence was low.
Priority to “image management”
The appointment of Mr. Brisebois greatly worries the president of the Syndicat de l’enseignement de Val-Maska, Patrick Théroux, who first confided in the Courier of Saint-Hyacinthe.
When the appointment was announced at the CSSSH’s May board meeting, Mr. Théroux explained to The Press I quickly became concerned when rereading the media articles reporting an omerta that would have been going on for years at Saint-Laurent school.
Patrick Théroux is concerned about the fact that because of his duties, Patrice Brisebois will be called upon to be in contact with school administrators. He wonders how he would deal with it if something serious were to happen in a school in Saint-Hyacinthe as well.
The more things go – generally speaking in the school system in Quebec -, “the more it is the management of the image [qui prime] above all in school service centres,” says Mr. Théroux.
The president of the teachers’ union also wonders why a second deputy has been added to the director general, when there was only one so far.
In response to our questions, Patrice Brisebois responded by email to be “a manager who cares about the success and well-being of students [et qui a] always made decisions in this direction, to the best of [ses] knowledge “.
“Increased vigilance” for this appointment
By e-mail, Esther Charrette, communications manager at the Saint-Hyacinthe school service center, recalls that Mr. Brisebois has not been the subject of any criminal charges or warnings or disciplinary measures. She adds that “the allegations concerning Mr. Brisebois were known to the Board of Directors and the selection committee, which showed increased vigilance in the file”.
In an interview, Jean-Pierre Bédard, director general of the CSSSH, indicated that “everything that revolved around Saint-Laurent school” caused the school service center “to say to itself that it [fallait] keep a very watchful eye” when considering the application.
The CSSSH says it was accompanied “by an external partner” for the hiring process. The position was advertised for almost two weeks, in different locations, and 21 applications were received.
And why appoint a second deputy to the general manager, when there was only one so far? Mr. Bédard replies that this is “an organizational choice” and relates to the replacement of a coordinator.
Another ex-leader turned strategic adviser
In addition, another former leader of Saint-Laurent school, Dominic Bertrand (director of Saint-Laurent secondary school between 2010 and 2012, then director of the Marguerite-Bourgeoys school board from 2015 to 2023), was appointed in April strategic advisor to the Ministry of Education.
As of April 30, a request for an interview with Dominic Bertrand (who is not the subject of criminal charges) was made to the Ministry of Education, who was also asked the nature of the new functions. by Mr. Bertrand.
Esther Chouinard, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, has not yet answered us about Mr. Bertrand’s role and the interview with him has not been granted so far.
The report of the administrative inquiry into Saint-Laurent school is not available on the website of the Ministry of Education.