A three-member panel of Ontario’s Divisional Court is reserving judgement after it reviewed the case of Rachel Prinzen and the HPE School Board in Ottawa February 23. There is no timeline for Justices Schreck, Backhouse, and Fregeau to deliver their findings

Board Trustee Prinzen is appealing two Code of Conduct determinations and associated sanctions.

Ms. Prinzen, who represents North Prince Edward County, received a 90-day suspension in November 2024 after an Integrity Commissioner found she had breached the School Board’s confidentiality and information processes. 

Ms. Prinzen appealed this decision to the Divisional Court, which granted a temporary stay. No decision has been released.

Again in May 2025, the Board’s integrity commissioner found Ms. Prinzen had breached Section 5 of the Code, for again failing to keep confidential information. Ms. Prinzen was barred from attending board and committee meetings for another 90 days commencing August 25, 2025.

In Ottawa, the court heard that Ms. Prinzen, in her role as trustee, started to have concerns about the Board’s governance, operations, and the financial compensation of senior staffers.

Ms. Prinzen, who represented herself, told the justices she exhausted internal avenues to address those concerns. Ms. Prinzen forwarded her concerns and associated in-camera information to then Minister of Education Stephen Lecce as well as MPPs Todd Smith and Ric Bresee.

Arguing on behalf of the HPEDSB, lawyer Jessica Koper said Ms. Prinzen has no individual authority to act in law in her capacity as one of 10 School Board trustees.

“Ms. Prinzen has not taken responsibility for her actions in disclosing highly confidential information, consisting of privileged, in-camera and personal information of employees of the board, including making defamatory allegations against the Director of Education,” she said.