HSD responds to Giesbrecht guilty plea

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This article was published 27/01/2016 (3010 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Hanover School Division issued a statement on Thursday morning following news that former division employee, Garry Giesbrecht, pleaded guilty on Tuesday in a Winnipeg courtroom to a charge of communicating for the purposes of prostitution.

“As a school division we can appreciate the concern that the public may have, after learning of the recent news coverage concerning a former HSD employee (principal) at Elmdale School,” superintendent Randy Dueck said in the statement.

“Although we cannot speak to personnel matters of former employees, or to cases that are before the courts, the Division is confident that we took all steps necessary to ensure that Mr. Giesbrecht did not return to Elmdale School from the moment we became aware of the charge. Hanover School Division takes the role of protecting student welfare very seriously, and acts quickly on any information that comes to its attention.

“Our first priority has been, and always will be, the safety and well-being of our students and ensuring a safe learning environment for them.”

Giesbrecht entered a guilty plea on Tuesday for the Jan. 30, 2015 incident. Another charge of committing an indecent act in a public place was stayed.

The case was adjourned until next Monday when a date for a sentencing hearing will be set. Court records show the Steinbach resident is also scheduled to face other similar charges in October.

The long-time principal abruptly retired from Elmdale School a few weeks before the end of 2014-2015 school year.