Rick Petrella, the former long-serving chair of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board, is currently on an unpaid leave of absence until December 2025.
Petrella has faced intense public scrutiny following a controversial, publicly funded trip to Italy, taken with fellow trustees Dan Dignard, Bill Chopp, and Mark Watson. The group spent over $70,000 on artwork for two new schools, and the board incurred more than $60,000 in legal fees in the aftermath. The trip itself cost approximately $50,000.
Petrella did not attend the board’s March 25 meeting or a recent committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday. A board spokesperson confirmed to The Spectator that Petrella is on an “approved leave of absence,” though did not say when it began or if it is directly linked to the Italy trip.
They emphasized that the leave is not a sanction, but a voluntary request approved by the board.
“To respect the individual’s privacy, we will not be responding to questions or inquiries connected to this leave of absence,” the board said in a statement posted Wednesday.
In Petrella’s absence, school-related matters can be directed to board chair Carol Luciani, who will either respond or forward concerns to Bill Chopp, the trustee for Brantford.
Despite public calls for his resignation after the Italy scandal, Petrella said in November 2023 that he intended to complete his term but would not seek re-election in 2026. He also declined a nomination for board chair that December, a position he had held for a decade.
Dignard, Watson, and Chopp remain on the board. Following backlash, all four trustees committed to repaying their travel expenses. While a repayment schedule has been set, the board has not disclosed how much has been repaid to date.
In December, then-Education Minister Jill Dunlop appointed Aaron Shull to conduct a review of the board’s spending. The report was expected by March 2025, but the board said it has not yet seen any findings.
Current Education Minister Paul Calandra has vowed to hold boards accountable. In a video shared on April 14, he said he will be “relentless” in ensuring transparency and support for students and staff.
The Ministry of Education did not respond when asked whether Shull’s report has been received or if it will be made public.
The Spectator reached out to Rick Petrella for comment but had not received a response as of Wednesday.
Celeste Percy-Beauregard is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with The Hamilton Spectator. This initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.
