A Message from Your Trustees

As students headed back to school this fall in Thames Valley, you may have been surprised to learn that the trustees you elected to represent your community can no longer respond to your questions or concerns. A few of us have put together some information to help you understand what's going on and how it may affect you.

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What's Changed?

The Ontario government has taken control of the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB). Because of this, your locally elected trustees are not allowed to make decisions or speak directly with families and community members in an official capacity.

 

This group of trustees still cares deeply about students and families, and we believe that stopping us from speaking also stops your voice from being heard.

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What's Behind This?

As the overseers of the board, we were accountable for the budget and the actions of our employee, the Director of Education. This group of trustees takes that responsibility very seriously, but it's not as simple as it looks. You’re being told that the problem is trustee mismanagement.

 

But the facts - including the facts provided by the Ministry’s own audit - tell a different story. Many experts  believe the real issue is that our schools just don’t get enough money from the Ministry of Education.

 

Because of this, school boards are being forced to make tough choices: either cut important services for students or risk being taken over by the province. 

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Is Something Else Going On?

We think so, yes. We think this is part of a bigger picture of provincial overreach. We think that Bill 33 is part of an attack on public education and that eliminating the role of trustee is going to make it harder for you to fight back. We believe that Bill 33 could:

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• Limit your voice in decisions about your child’s school, like naming schools or setting local priorities.

• Take power away from local school boards, giving more control to the Minister of Education instead of the people you elect.

• Make it easier for the government to overrule trustees, even when they’re standing up for students and families.

• Centralize decisions in Toronto instead of the communities who are impacted.

• Reduce transparency, with fewer checks and balances on how decisions are made.

• Put more focus on control than on student success, which could hurt public education in the long run.

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Why Should I Care?

Trustees were elected to speak up for you. We help make sure the Ministry of Education (who controls where school funding comes from) understands what local schools and their students, families, and community really need.

 

Without trustees, we think it's harder for you to raise concerns, ask questions, or help shape decisions about education.

 

And most importantly, we think that if we lose the fight against Bill 33 and the elimination of your trustees, you will lose your voice in your community. Without trustees, who will you call when you or your child need help navigating a school system that can feel overwhelming when you're in crisis.

 

Without trustees, who will be your voice at the school board? Who will make sure you are heard?  

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Aren't You Just Trying to Save Your Job?

We know that we aren't going back to work for you this academic year - the Minister of Education has made that clear. This isn't about making excuses or saving face.

 

Regardless of what you have read about TVDSB, your trustees were trying hard to get spending under control and increase accountability to the public. We were very clear in our directions to cut unnecessary spending and we insisted that the Director of Education ensure that the classroom was the last place to feel the pinch.

 

In fact, many of us welcomed the Ministry intervention so we could show them the numbers and force them to acknowledge that the math was never going to add up. Now we're worried you're never going to get the answers you deserve.

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What Can I Do?

Share the link to this page. Tell your friends and your neighbours about Bill 33 and the attack on public education. 

 

Tell Premier Ford, Education Minister Paul Calandra, and your local MPPs that this is not acceptable and you won't stand for this blatant disregard for local democracy: https://tinyurl.com/yourtrustees-email-doug-ford

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Follow up with a phone call and/or a personalized email to your MPP. (contact info here)

 

Don't let the Minister of Education take your voice out of your school board!