Major challenges ahead as TVDSB begins a new school year, experts say change on the horizon

With a provincial takeover and massive $32 million budget deficit looming, students are headed back to school in London area, CTV’s Bryan Bicknell reports.

The Thames Valley District School Board begins the new school year under a cloud of financial and leadership uncertainty. It faces a ballooning deficit - while at the same time, the province is considering a revamp of the public education governance model.

Meantime, as families get set for their first day of classes, some may not know who to turn to for guidance - at least, that’s what concerns Beth Mai, the chair of the now powerless Thames Valley District School Board of Trustees.

“All of those individuals no longer have any kind of decision-making ability, or ability to communicate with their community. That’s particularly concerning to me when I think about parents who might need support with advocacy, or navigating the system,” said Mai, who is now looking in from the outside.

Tuesday marked the first, first-day of school for the public board since the province appointed a supervisor this past spring because of financial concerns. In July, it was revealed that a budget deficit of $17 million had ballooned to a projected $32 million. Finances aside, TVDSB Director of Education Bill Tucker says meeting students’ needs remains priority-one.

“Finances are always a challenge for school boards. Again, we’ll work our way through this with the supervisor. We have a focus on improving educational outcomes for kids, improving confidence in the education system, and getting out of this situation. And we’ll get there,” he pledged.

Since the province took control of TVDSB, four more Ontario school boards have come under provincial supervision. Bill 33, a controversial new bill tabled at Queens Park, would make it even easier for the government to take over a school board without an outside review.

“There’s no point in putting more money into a system that is so dysfunctional,” commented Debbie Kasman. The education analyst and researcher says big changes are coming to the education system, and that could include replacing school board trustees with parent advisory councils.

“Most parents have no idea who their school board trustee is. Most parents have no idea what their school board trustee does - and the reality is the role and the power has been slowly taken away from school board trustees over the past 30 years,” explained Kasman.

Education Minster Paul Calandra has said a new governance model will be announced by the end of the calendar year.