Windsor-Essex Trustees Express Concerns Over Bill 33’s Impact

The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) trustees have raised significant concerns following the Ontario government’s passage of Bill 33, also known as The Supporting Children and Students Act, on March 6, 2024. This legislation grants the provincial government expanded powers to oversee school boards, prompting fears among trustees regarding its implications for local educational governance.

Trustee Malek Mekawi expressed strong reservations about the bill’s broad language, stating, “It doesn’t just clear the path for supervision; I think it annihilates it.” His comments were made during a GECDSB meeting where trustees discussed the potential ramifications of this new law. Previously, the Ministry of Education could only intervene in specific situations, such as when a board failed to balance its budget over consecutive years or did not comply with the Education Act.

Currently, five school boards in Ontario are under provincial supervision, but none of these are located in the Windsor-Essex or Chatham-Kent regions. The trustees have sought clarification from the ministry regarding whether local boards might soon fall under similar oversight.

Gale Hatfield, Chair of the GECDSB and a trustee with over 34 years of experience, voiced her concerns about the future of public education in Ontario. “I’m afraid for the future of public education,” Hatfield told CTV News. “I don’t want to see public school boards or any school boards being eliminated.” This uncertainty casts a shadow over the ongoing discussions among trustees regarding the appointments needed to fill two vacancies on the board.

Trustees Debate Future Governance

At the recent board meeting, trustees engaged in an often heated debate about how to proceed with the vacant positions. They ultimately decided to post the trustee roles publicly and conduct interviews to appoint new members. This decision came after an intense discussion, with Trustee Cathy Cooke urging her colleagues to work collaboratively to avoid further vacancies. “Can we not just work together tonight and do it the right way and move on, please?” Cooke pleaded.

While the atmosphere was tense, the trustees managed to reach a unanimous decision on the application process, which is expected to begin shortly. This move reflects an ongoing commitment to maintaining the integrity of the board and ensuring that local representation continues.

The subject of Bill 33 was also raised at the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board meeting, where Lisa Soulliere was re-elected as Chair. She remarked on the challenges facing educational governance in Ontario, stating, “We appear to start this final year as endangered stewards of publicly funded education in the province of Ontario.” Soulliere emphasized the need for the board to focus on the success of its students despite the government’s actions.

Commitment to Student Success

Despite the uncertainty surrounding their governance, trustees across both boards reiterated their commitment to student success. “We must be focused on the whole of our system and its success,” Soulliere affirmed. She highlighted that the board remains one of the strongest in Ontario, attributing this to their focus on building supportive communities for students.

Trustee Hatfield also reassured the public, stating, “I have faith in this board. I have faith in our administrators. I have faith in our teachers in the classrooms, and we will never leave our students behind.” Her comments reflect a determination to maintain educational standards and support for students, regardless of the provincial government’s decisions.

As the implications of Bill 33 unfold, trustees in the Windsor-Essex area remain vigilant, advocating for local governance while prioritizing the educational needs of their communities. The future of public education in Ontario may depend on how these developments are navigated in the coming months.