Directors of School Boards targets of the Ministry of Education
TORONTO – Education Minister Paul Calandra continues to mystify public observers with his observations and actions in Education, six months after he placed four school boards under supervision. He had won public approval when, following investigations (quick “financial audits” exercised by accounting firms) into the conduct of said boards. The investigators alleged mismanagement, questionable decision-making that placed the Boards’ financial health at risk and growing deficits as triggers for Ministry intervention.
Two of those Boards, the biggest by enrolment and education dollar consumption in the province (circa $4.5 billion annually according to Ontario Education Reports, 2024-25), were/are seen as especially egregious offenders. They are arguably top heavy with “senior Staff” – superintendents – whose monthly salaries exceeded $20,000-$25,000 plus benefits and holidays and whose “leadership”, judged against outcome, and quality of decisions their “guidance” provided would be suspect, at best.
Admittedly, it is a broad brush. The Toronto public board, over the last several years has emerged as an institution modelled on the 1955 Hollywood movie condemnation of Education in America, The Blackboard Jungle, starring Sidney Poitier and Glenn Ford. The Catholic board had distinguished itself by, among other factors, being able to turn a $100 million surplus into a $75 million deficit in ten months!
Minister Calandra convinced the Province’s Executive Council (Cabinet colleagues and the Lieutenant Governor) that the situation was so dire in those boards that Education matters (policy and operations) should be vested in him alone.
No more Directors and senior Staff to “divert” public funds into themes and projects that did not improve the “educational health” of students. Many of our readers think he was right to do so.
Except that…
This being Ontario, until last week, no Directors were dismissed (fired) nor had their salaries diminished because of the investigations or the Minister’s dictates. Trustees, who do not make decisions in a vacuum – in fact could not make the operational decisions that earned Calandra’s anger – were relieved of the authority buttressing their operational roles.
Minister Calandra insisted “everything” must go through his appointed supervisor, except for the denominational issues, as in the case of Catholic School Trustees whose unique position is Constitutionally secured. But lack of judgement is not.
Last week, some teachers at those Boards must have drawn the ire of their respective Supervisor when they permitted their students to prepare and deliver “concerts” completely devoid of the seasonal themes. The Director at the public board was bid adieu.
The Director at the Catholic board, who has no authority over the Catholic trustees, convened a Board meeting, at the behest of the Supervisor (although no one was able to see any authorizing communication bearing his signature), to address two denominational matters: the renaming of a school and the selection of a new Chairman of the Board – the latter being an annual exercise.
Readers may infer what they like. Audio evidence of the “debate” suggests an almost total rejection of the director’s ability to lead to the Board on the Agenda and the process. The prevailing mood among trustees was to demonstrate and execute change. They seemed to point to the leadership-authors at the helm when the Minister launched his campaign to reform education.
A friend to Director, the former Chair attracted criticism for his public spats with the Minister and was roundly rejected in his bid for re-election. Daniel Di Giorgio is now the “go-to” Chair for Minister Calandra, clearing the way for the decisive action demonstrated at the Toronto Public.
It is not a happy season for Directors. The one leading York Catholic has been placed on Administrative Leave as he awaits “finality”. His advisor? The Director at Toronto Catholic.
In the pics, clockwise from top left: Paul Calandra, Rohit Gupta, Clayton La Touche, and Frank Benedetto; on the right, Brendan Brown (photos from various social media profiles and school boards’ websites)
