Former education director was ‘like Saddam Hussein,’ Ontario education minister says

Ontario’s education minister walked back a comment likening a retired board director to Saddam Hussein. Eric Taschner reports.

Paul Calandra, Ontario’s minister of education, is walking back a comment he made Tuesday about the former director of education at the Near North District School Board.

Calandra likened Craig Myles to former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during a discussion about overhauling education.

During the debate on education reforms in Bill 101, Calandra referenced the ongoing governance challenges at the beleaguered school board.

The province took over running the board after an investigation showed widespread dysfunction and a lack of oversight in the construction of a new, $58 million super school, which failed to open last September, angering parents and students.

The investigation was critical of the now-retired Myles, who operated on his own in Widdifield Secondary School on Ski Club Road in North Bay, a former school, rather than at the school board’s offices.

“A school board and its students were in absolute crisis,” Calanda said Tuesday.

“Like Saddam Hussein, he had himself a wonderful palace, this guy.”

A Ministry of Education governance review found that Myles failed to show leadership, moved into the empty high school to set up an office and participated in his own job performance reviews, which saw his salary increase by more than 37 per cent.

“Paid himself more than the director of education in Toronto, for a board of what some 10,000 students,” Calandra said.

However, comparing Myles to a former dictator didn’t sit well with some people, including Rob Hammond, the local president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario.

“Craig Myles was a lot of things, but he was not a tyrant,” Hammond said, adding that Calandra’s remark was “character assassination.”

“He was actually a good man, but probably wasn’t the most effective director.”

Calandra walked back his statement Wednesday while speaking to reporters.

“Probably wasn’t a good comparison and it was maybe just out frustration,” he said.

“Look, the reality was this was a guy who didn’t deserve to be in that position.”

Bill 101 would limit school board sizes, cap the amount paid to trustees, give the ministry more control over communications and establish a CEO role as the top employee at the school board.

Trustee positions will remain.

“I’m really glad that the minister has kept school board trustees after all,” said Bill Steer, a former trustee with the Near North board.

“I think it is 147 years now that represents that community democracy.”

NDP leader Marit Stiles said Calandra’s comments were a distraction tactic.

“If they really wanted to help students, they would have smaller class sizes,” Stiles said.

“That is what determines student success.”

Worry issue is being ‘politicized’

In a statement, Amy Black of Parents from Parry Sound, pointed out that the province only took action after the issue gained public attention.

“We are concerned that the current narrative risks becoming politicized and sensationalized,” Black said.

“Our children’s education and the challenges facing our community should not be used to advance political agendas or create headlines. This situation has had real and lasting impacts on students, staff, and families, and it deserves to be addressed with professionalism and respect.”

In previous remarks, Calandra said he plans to remain in control of the board until the Parry Sound school is built and the governance issues are rectified.

Later on April 15, he wrote to parents in the area that a provincial supervisor has been appointed to lead the board.

Rebecca Bell “will focus on restoring strong leadership at the board and ensuring that decisions are made that put student achievement first and are in the best interest of families and educators,” the letter said.

RELATED STORIES:

• Former northern Ont. school board chair in education minister’s crosshairs
• Former Near North District School Board trustee calls on province to protect school boards
• Education director of embattled northern Ont. school board has retired
• Ontario education minister appoints himself as interim supervisor of school board
• Province takes control of embattled northern Ont. school board