School District 73 superintendent Rhonda Nixon pictured here at an October 2024 news conference. She's facing allegations of bullying employees and faces a newly-spurred investigation.

(LEVI LANDRY / iNFOnews.ca)

The head of the Kamloops-Thompson school district is fielding allegations of bullying on the job.

The union representing School District 73 employees filed a grievance this week seeking an investigation into her office behaviour.

iNFOnews.ca has learned at least four employees spurred the complaint that claims school superintendent Rhonda Nixon's behaviour has created a toxic work environment both directly and indirectly for staff.

She's accused of belittling, insulting, demeaning, yelling and "exhibiting facial and body expressions that demonstrate anger," according to the union grievance.

"Can you imagine going into an office everyday with a knot in your stomach because you don't know if you make a little mistake, you're going to be berated for it?" a source with knowledge of Nixon's alleged workplace conduct said.

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Employees subject to alleged bullying face it both privately, separated from others, and publicly in open office settings, according to the grievance.

It's not clear how long Nixon's alleged behaviour has continued, but complaints to the union only started within the last few months. She took the job as superintendent for School District 73 in 2021, hired from a Catholic school district in Alberta.

CUPE 3500 President Dawn Armstrong said she had "no comment at this time," when reached by iNFOnews.ca. The union represents certified education assistants and most of the district's non-teaching staff among its members.

Kamloops Thompson Teachers' Association President Laurel Macpherson also offered no comment, other than to say that her association has "no knowledge" of the allegations.

Those who have complained are to remain anonymous in the grievance, only known to an investigator, in order to protect them from potential retaliation.

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The workplace complaint involves both union and non-union staff. Those that involve non-union staff would typically see an internal workplace investigation spurred by executive staff, like the superintendent or secretary-treasurer. It's not clear whether the school district has considered taking on its own workplace investigation.

Nixon did not respond to a request for comment when iNFOnews.ca reached her office by phone and email.

iNFOnews.ca reached out to all school board trustees, but they were largely silent.

"Unfortunately, due to the sensitive topic of this email, I will not be able to comment on it without approval from the board," trustee Cole Hickson said in a written response.

Board chair Heather Grieve and trustee John O'Fee each responded to say they wouldn't comment on a personnel matter, while the others did not respond.

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