Ontario’s education minister aims to develop a plan by the end of the year that could potentially remove trustees from school boards across the province. Minister Paul Calandra is considering the elimination of the trustee position as part of a review of the provincial governance model. This move has faced criticism from parents and other officials who argue that trustees serve as an essential advocate for families.
Calandra asserts that his plan aims to enhance classroom resources, reduce division within school boards, and improve parental access to the education system. Earlier this year, the province intervened by appointing supervisors to take control of five school boards, including major ones like the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), due to financial mismanagement issues.
While some stakeholders believe that financial mismanagement is not the root cause but rather chronic underfunding of education by the province, Calandra has emphasized that supervisors will ensure budget stability without compromising educational programs. He mentioned that the province is not considering eliminating school boards entirely but will continue the takeover if necessary.
Proposed legislation, Bill 33, would streamline the government’s ability to intervene in school boards facing challenges. However, Calandra clarified that the province has no plans to consolidate all 72 boards into just four. The opposition and various community members have expressed concerns about centralized decision-making, advocating for the importance of locally elected trustees in ensuring effective education services.
In response to criticisms, Calandra and Premier Doug Ford have reiterated their commitment to providing adequate funding to meet the diverse needs of students, emphasizing that the focus should be on supporting children’s education rather than restructuring governance models.
