The Near North District School Board faces escalating community and government pressure after abruptly cancelling a scheduled deputation to Parry Sound town council. The meeting was intended to provide a crucial update on the repeatedly delayed construction of a new JK to Grade 12 school, a project that has been a source of frustration since its inception in 2011. The board’s failure to appear only compounds existing tensions and ignores a specific directive from the Ontario Ministry of Education. Community patience wears thin Parents and community members, who have waited over a decade for the new school, were left disappointed once again by the board’s last-minute cancellation. The lack of a confirmed reschedule date has further eroded trust in the board’s commitment to transparency. “We’ve been giving them enough chances since 2011 when the school project began,” said Amy Black, a spokesperson for the ‘Parents for Parry Sound’ group. The cancelled meeting was a significant event, as it was to feature the school board’s director of education Craig Myles and board chairperson Ashley St. Pierre. They were expected to address the construction snags and answer questions not only about the school but also following a damning 33-page ministry review that found significant dysfunction and leadership issues within the board. Ministerial directives ignored The board’s cancellation directly contravenes a directive from Education Minister Paul Calandra. The ministry’s review had instructed the board to hold an in-person meeting with the Parry Sound community, led by Myles, within 10 days – a deadline the board has now failed to meet. In an email to CTV News, chairperson St. Pierre confirmed the meeting was “rescheduled” but provided no new date. “A date hasn’t been confirmed yet as our re-organizational meeting is Tuesday this week,” St. Pierre wrote. “We don’t know who the chair and vice chair will be until then. Also, the director of education was/is unable to attend virtual and in person.” This explanation did little to satisfy local officials. “I believe that the directives spell out exactly what the ‘director’ was supposed to do. This was not done,” wrote Mayor Jamie McGarvey in a separate an email to CTV News. In response, Parry Sound town council will now vote on a motion to request Education Minister Paul Calandra to directly address the situation. Provincial intervention looms over failing board Calandra has previously said his office would intervene if the school board failed to meet the ministry’s recommendations, and his patience appears to be wearing thin. He has used the situation to emphasize the provincial government’s push for Bill 33, which would grant the minister enhanced powers to take control of school boards. “Every school board across this province, you better do what is right with students, teachers and parents first,” Calandra said. “Or I’ll step in and do it for you.” However, some community advocates are skeptical that the proposed legislation is the solution. “Although our board is the perfect example of mismanagement and incompetence, Minister Calandra’s agenda for Bill 33 still isn’t going to solve the issues we’re currently facing,” Black said. CTV News did reach out to Calandra’s office for comment; - however, our call and email were not returned. St. Pierre has indicated that she hopes to reschedule the presentation to council promptly following the board’s internal re-organizational meeting, with a community and parent session also planned for the near future. RELATED STORIES:
