Democrats intensify efforts to maintain school board officials amid local silence
In a recent statement, Ontario NDP Shadow Minister of Education, Chandra Pasma, expressed concerns about the Ford government's plan to eliminate school board trustees. The statement highlights the potential for a power grab by Doug Ford and his Education Minister, Paul Calandra, and warns of the possible consequences this move could have on schools, communities, and children's futures.
The statement calls on the Ford government to reconsider its reckless plan, expressing concern that the Minister is ready to remove parental and community involvement in children's education. It suggests that the Minister of Education is willing to shut down school boards if they believe they can get away with it, a claim contradicted by the Ministry of Education's own documents which show that 40% of school boards are running a deficit, and the number of boards in deficit is growing under the Conservatives.
The Minister's claim that the vast majority of boards across the province are running surpluses is also disputed by the Ministry's documents. The statement does not provide any factual evidence that the Minister of Education has already made a decision to shut down school boards, but it does warn that such a move could cause irreparable damage.
The statement also mentions Quebec and Nova Scotia as potential warning signs of what could happen in Ontario if school board trustees are eliminated. In these provinces, the absence of local representation has led to centralised decision-making, which critics argue has resulted in a lack of accountability and responsiveness to the needs of individual communities.
The Minister's plans for Professional Development days have also come under scrutiny. The Minister wants to refocus these days on helping teachers teach, but has not provided specific details about what this refocusing entails. The statement does not mention any factual evidence that teacher absenteeism is the primary cause of teacher shortages, a claim made by the Minister.
The Minister has imposed a new requirement that all teachers in the province spend a day of Professional Development learning about School Resource Officer programs, regardless of whether such a program exists in their board. This move has been criticised for its lack of flexibility and potential for waste of resources.
The statement also points out that the Ford government's education funding has not kept pace with inflation or enrollment growth, with schools receiving less funding per student this year than in 2018-19. The total shortfall under this government amounts to $6.3 billion.
The statement warns that a power grab by Doug Ford and Paul Calandra would leave parents with no one to turn to but an out-of-touch minister at Queen's Park or inexperienced political insiders. Families, the statement argues, deserve accountable, local representation who know their communities and can stand up for students and parents.
Since August 2025, the position of Shadow Minister for Education in Ontario is held by a person who has opposed the Ford government's plan to abolish school board members, but the search results do not specify the name of this person. The statement does not provide any specific details about what the power grab by Doug Ford and Paul Calandra entails beyond eliminating school board trustees.
However, the statement does warn of the growing rates of violence in our schools and the increasing injury claims from educators, issues that are not addressed by the proposed plan to eliminate school board trustees. The statement concludes by urging the Ford government to reconsider its decision and to prioritise the needs of students, parents, and communities over political agendas.
