Blake Ellis/The Independent

The collective bargaining agreement between the Lambton Kent District School Board and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) prevented the hiring of child and youth workers, says a superintendent.

But one trustee is questioning why she was left out of the loop when the decisions were being made.

The school board recently released a job posting for the hiring of three Indigenous social workers. Trustee Roberta Northmore who represents four Lambton First Nations, questioned the move at the Sept. 9 board meeting.

Previously Superintendent Angie Barrasse had spoke about the possibility of hiring four new pilot positions – two Indigenous social workers and two child and youth worker. That was at the June 18 Indigenous Liaison Committee meeting.

Barrasse told the trustees at the September meeting the plan was not feasible, since child and youth workers are not listed as possible hires under the collective bargaining agreement with CUPE.

“That does not mean it is off the table forever,” said Barrasse, as the school board plans to make a presentation to union representatives about including child and youth workers in its collective bargaining agreement.

The school board reached out to the representatives of the four First Nations within the school district before the job positions were posted.

The three social workers will be in place for a one-year term. The funding put aside for the pilot project remains the same.

“Why was I not included?” questioned Northmore, who serves as the chair of the Indigenous Liaison Committee, but didn’t know what went on behind the scenes with the pilot project.

“I look like the fool here.”