Ontario School Board Trustees Face Potential Elimination Amid Review

Ontario’s school board trustees are under scrutiny following comments from Education Minister Paul Calandra regarding the potential elimination of their positions. During a recent interview with CBC Radio, Calandra expressed a desire for more certainty in the education system, stating, “I’m 100 per cent looking at the elimination of the trustee position.” His remarks have sparked immediate concern among trustees and educators alike.

In response, Renee Kraft, chair of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, introduced a motion urging the board to communicate its concerns to Calandra. The motion emphasized the vital role trustees play in representing community voices, ensuring accountability and transparency, and supporting student achievement through locally informed policies. However, this motion was withdrawn during a recent board meeting as the Catholic board sought to revise its approach based on evolving information from the Ministry of Education.

Concerns are similarly pronounced within the Waterloo Region District School Board. Board chair Maedith Radlein shared her apprehension about the potential impacts of eliminating trustee positions, asserting that all elected representatives should be worried. Trustee Scott Piatkowski voiced his opinion in an op-ed for The Walrus, highlighting the risks of removing trustees from the educational governance structure. “Take trustees out of the picture and what’s left isn’t a school system,” he wrote, underscoring the necessity of accountability to parents and communities.

The role of school board trustees in Ontario has a long history, dating back to the 1800s. Over the years, the system has undergone significant changes, including the consolidation of over 3,700 boards into 230 in 1968. This was followed by further reductions during the 1990s under then-Premier Mike Harris, which saw trustee positions cut and powers diminished. Currently, trustees primarily focus on budget approval, hiring directors, and bridging communication between families and the educational bureaucracy.

Kristina Llewellyn, a history professor at McMaster University, emphasized the importance of trustees in ensuring local representation in education. “The more representative and connected a school board is with their community, the better the educational outcomes for all students,” she stated. Llewellyn also expressed concern that eliminating trustees would diminish parents’ voices in educational matters.

The discussion around trustee roles is not unique to Ontario. Other provinces have experienced similar overhauls, often with mixed results. In New Brunswick, the removal of elected school boards in 1997 led to their reinstatement just four years later due to public pressure. Nova Scotia and Quebec have also faced challenges following similar decisions, raising questions about the efficacy of alternatives such as enhanced parent councils.

Calandra has made it clear that his aim is to streamline funding to classrooms. Yet, experts caution against oversimplifying financial issues. Kelly Gallagher-Mackay, an associate professor specializing in education and inequality at Wilfrid Laurier University, argued that attributing financial problems solely to trustees is misleading. “People like a cynical explanation, so it’s easy to point to corruption than challenges that are really hard to solve,” she commented.

Piatkowski pointed out that inflation-adjusted education funding per student in Ontario has decreased by $776 since 2018, while school boards struggle with hiring and budget constraints. He highlighted that a loss of trustee oversight could further complicate the relationship between educational authorities and families.

Calandra is expected to present a plan by the end of the school year regarding the future of trustees as part of a broader review of the education governance model. Bob Williams, a political science professor emeritus at the University of Waterloo, raised important questions regarding the motivations behind this review. He argued that eliminating trustees without a clear understanding of the underlying issues may not lead to effective solutions. “What problem are you trying to solve?” Williams asked, emphasizing the need for a thoughtful approach to educational governance.

As discussions continue, the future of school board trustees in Ontario remains uncertain. Both trustees and educational experts advocate for a system that prioritizes local representation and accountability, ensuring that the voices of parents and communities are integral to the decision-making process in education.