The dozen trustees who represent the Toronto District School Board are pushing for a meeting with Education Minister Paul Calandra to discuss how and when board supervision will end. In a letter to the education minister, the group says the purpose of the meeting would be to discuss the “current state of supervision of the TDSB and what measures need to be taken in order for the governance of the board to be returned to the trustees.” “As you are aware, Toronto voters elected a new board with a fresh mandate. 672,546 people voted for trustees in the election on October 26th. We believe that the democratic choices made by Toronto residents should not be ignored,” the letter, provided to CP24, read. “Respecting local democracy means allowing elected representatives to fulfill the responsibilities voters have entrusted to them.” The Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and six others have been placed under provincial supervision due to allegations of financial mismanagement, budget deficits, infighting, and governance failures. A TDSB memo, obtained by CTV News earlier this week, indicated that the trustees will continue to have very limited powers while under supervision. According to the memo, trustees are not allowed to attend school-based events nor enter schools in their capacity as a board member. They are also not, in their role as trustee, permitted to engage with principals, school staff, or school council. The memo stipulates that all parental and community inquiries should be forwarded to the chief executive officer. “Indefinite supervision without clear parameters prevents trustees from acting on their communities’ priorities and leaves families without a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their schools,” the letter sent to the minister read. “It undermines both the mandate given by voters and the accountability that elected representation provides. We recognize the importance of sound financial management, responsible governance, and public accountability. These responsibilities are entirely compatible with elected local leadership.” The trustees state that they are looking for “clear and transparent criteria” to put an end to supervision, including the “specific conditions that must be met for the Board’s authority to be restored.” “We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further. Toronto residents have elected their representatives. We are ready to serve,” the letter concluded. In a statement sent to CP24, Emma Testani, the press secretary for Calandra, said the education minister made it clear before the municipal elections that school boards will remain under supervision “for as long as it takes to ensure they are financially stable, well managed, and focused on student success.” She noted that anyone who chose to run for a trustee position did so knowing that supervision would continue. “For the TDSB, this means establishing a long-term financial plan that ensures public funds are managed responsibly, and resources are directed toward improving student achievement,” the statement read. “We continue to meet regularly with the TDSB’s supervisor and CEO to monitor progress and ensure the board is on the right path. Governance will only be returned to trustees when we are confident that the board is financially stable and positioned for long-term success.”
