The public school board in Windsor-Essex could be moving away from using the Caboto Club as a venue for any of its future events.
A motion brought forward by trustee Jessica Sartori at the regular meeting for the Greater Essex County District School Board on Tuesday night looks to have the board discontinue use of the Caboto Club until the club allows women to be full voting members of its board.
If approved, the ban would take effect after the current school year.
The public vote is set for March 20.
Sartori says it would be a shame for the board to stop holding events at Caboto.
"It's a wonderful venue," says Sartori. "They do good work in the community and I hope they take this opportunity to change that policy because, it's a little outdated."
My motion at the board meeting tonight. Vote is on March 20. Sad this is necessary but the Caboto policy goes against our values as a board. pic.twitter.com/WwZ8tP6sK9
— Jessica Sartori (@Jessica_Sartori) February 21, 2018
Sartori stresses the motion is meant to send a message that the Caboto Club's policy is unacceptable.
"It's about really showing girls that they really can be anything they want to be. It's part of our board's values that boys and girls have an equal opportunity," says Sartori.
The Caboto Club came under fire for its policy barring women from sitting as full voting members on the board after Premier Kathleen Wynne cancelled a planned event there earlier this month, blaming the policy for the move.
The townhall was eventually held at the St. Clair College for the Arts building on Riverside Dr.
The executive of the Caboto Club have since held a number of meetings including with local labour leaders on the matter.