Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra is signalling that he may act quickly on newly granted powers that allow him to take direct control of school boards deemed dysfunctional or mismanaged.
The legislation, which passed third reading this week, expands the criteria under which a board may be placed under supervision and gives the minister greater authority to intervene in governance issues, not just financial ones.
Critics say the bill is undemocratic, but Calandra argues it is necessary to protect students and ensure boards operate effectively.
Calandra has singled out the Near North District School Board as a system of concern, following a government review that found deep fractures between trustees and administration.
The review outlined significant governance failures—including the director of education participating in evaluating his own performance, a lack of leadership, and trustee actions that contributed to long delays in building a new school in Parry Sound.
The minister issued a series of directives to the board last month and warned that if those directives are not fully met, he will not hesitate to take control.
The minister has already appointed supervisors at five other Ontario school boards, citing mismanagement.
He has also floated the possibility of eliminating the role of elected trustees entirely, saying he expects to make a decision before the end of the year.
He clarified, however, that French and Catholic boards would retain constitutionally protected trustee roles related to their linguistic or religious mandates.
Opposition parties, teachers’ unions, parents, and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association have denounced the bill, saying trustees ensure communities retain a voice in how local schools operate.
Amongst those concerned is Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Bobbi Ann Brady.
She spoke on the matter in a story we did last month.
You can read that story here.
Calandra maintains that the government’s changes will improve accountability and student outcomes.