Latest news with #ThamesValleyDistrictSchoolBoard
Global News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Ford government sends supervisors into more Ontario school boards, sidelining trustees
The Ford government will sideline trustees at four school boards, including both Toronto administrations, as the education minister continues a hands-on approach to governance reform. On Friday, Minister Paul Calandra announced he would send supervisors into Toronto, Toronto Catholic, Ottawa-Carleton and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. The Thames Valley District School Board in western Ontario has recently also been placed under supervision. 'Each of these boards has failed in its responsibility to parents and students by losing sight of its core mission,' Calandra said in a statement. 'I will take action to restore focus, rebuild trust and put students first.' The move effectively gives the provincial government control over the day-to-day decisions of those boards, taking it away from trustees elected in October 2022. Provincially appointed supervisors will now make calls ranging from the financial to new bylaws or facilities. Story continues below advertisement Recently tabled legislation — which has not yet been passed into law — will make it easier for Calandra to take control of school boards in the future, allowing him to sideline trustees for reasons not related to financial mismanagement and without a recommendation from a third party. Second wave of school board changes The changes announced Friday follow a major April announcement by Calandra, in which he took over the Thames Valley board and set in motion investigations into Toronto, Toronto Catholic and Ottawa-Carleton. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The latter three, he said at the time, all faced massive financial difficulties. He also set a series of deadlines for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to submit a governance plan — and work out how to repay the costs of a $145,000 trip to Italy and an art purchase. Story continues below advertisement In April, Calandra said the Brant Haldimand Norfolk board had spent more than Thames Valley — which put almost $40,000 toward a trip to the Toronto Blue Jays Hotel — but that its finances were ultimately in better shape. It avoided having a supervisor appointed, but was given a 30-day deadline to complete financial and management recommendations, as well as to repay the costs of the trip. 'If that board doesn't do what we are asking them to do, if they don't follow through on the additional recommendations, then I will use the tools that are available to me to take further action,' Calandra said on April 23.
Global News
17-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Troubled Ontario school board cutting staff to save $4.7M
A massive deficit is leading the Thames Valley District School Board to make massive cuts to staffing in an effort to save $4.7 million. The board said in a statement it's implementing a series of 'staffing adjustments' at the central board offices as part of its ongoing financial recovery efforts. The board would not confirm the number of cuts; a representative for the board said in a statement the cuts would result in $4.7 million in savings on salaries and benefits. This comes amid several other changes to combat a massive deficit. Some of these changes have taken effect immediately, and the board reports that others will be phased in over the coming months, and the 2025-2026 school year. 'The changes reflect the Board's commitment to long-term financial sustainability and ensuring that resources are focused on supporting student learning and well-being,' a representative for the board said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement The cuts come following a weeks-long financial audit of the board following outrage over controversial sending practices. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The report found that the financial position of TVDSB has declined from having a surplus of $3.5 million in 2020 to 2021 to an in-year deficit of $17.32 million in 2023 to 2024. While the projected deficit for the 2024-25 school year is expected to improve slightly to $16.8 million. The board has already implemented savings measures including the staffing cuts for the 2024 2025 school year, which would reduce $16.8 million deficit to an adjusted deficit ranging from $15.9 million to $13.7 million depending on which cuts are made. 'While these decisions are difficult, they have been made with a clear focus on securing the Board's financial stability and ensuring that resources remain available where they are needed most. The Board is committed to providing support for staff who are impacted by these changes,' a representative for the board said in a statement. All this comes following highly criticized spending practices and the board's director of education stepping down in March. In March the board announced that that the board of trustees accepted Mark Fisher's resignation. Fisher has been on a leave of absence since early September 2024, which took effect just days before the school board revealed the cost of an off-site planning meeting in Toronto, totaling $38,444.92. Story continues below advertisement This includes transportation, the Blue Jays' stadium hotel, meeting spaces and food expenses. Following the controversy over the trip, Ontario's Ministry of Education announced an audit of the board, which resulted in them finding the $16.8 million deficit.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Thames Valley School Board cuts dozens of jobs at board office
The Director of Education for the Thames Valley District School Board has confirmed dozens of layoffs at the board. This time, no teaching jobs are affected, rather, the cuts are among administrative ranks. Bill Tucker tells CTV News that 42 full time jobs at the central board office, including some in senior administration, have been cut. While some job cuts have already taken effect, others will roll out over the next few months and into the next school year. In a written statement to CTV News, the board says it's 'implementing a series of staffing adjustments at the central board offices as part of its ongoing financial recovery efforts.' The board says the 'adjustments' will result in about $4.7 million in salaries and benefits. 'They reflect careful planning to align our operations with financial realities while continuing to prioritize classrooms and students,' said the statement. A school board audit, completed in April, revealed a deficit of $17.3 million in 2023-24. The board is being overseen by a provincially appointed supervisor, following the spring audit. Paul Bonifferro oversees all financial and operational decisions. According to the Ministry of Education, Boniferro represents the ministry's vested control, overseeing and managing the administration of the board.
CBC
09-06-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Local police services have different plans as province pushes return of cops to schools
As the Ontario government moves to bring police officers back into schools, two local police services share different reactions to the news. While the St. Thomas Police Service (STPS) is on board with the idea of bringing back School Resource Officer (SRO) programs, the London Police Service (LPS) expressed less interest. Nonetheless, both police services said officer engagement with students is an important priority. "I think that this is the right step forward," said Marc Roskamp, the St. Thomas chief of police. "[The new bill] would allow police officers back into the schools and the traditional school resource officer program." Roskamp's endorsement follows closely behind Education Minister Paul Calandra's announcement of the Supporting Children and Students Act, which aims to consolidate ministry oversight over school boards and requires the return of SRO programs if local police offer them. In 2021, the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), the largest in the region, paused its SRO program and, in 2024, resolved not to re-initiate it due to concerns from students over surveillance and feelings of unease. The STPS has been vocal in its dissatisfaction with removing SROs and has also reported an uptick in officers being called to schools. Following a firearm scare at a school in January, Roskamp told reporters those incidents have risen by 55 per cent since 2021, with officers now attending schools once every two days. In his eyes, the police are a clear part of the solution to the problem. "Presence is deterrence," Roskamp said. "Whether expected or unexpected, visits to schools might reduce those incidents of violence, and what we're talking about is assaults, sexual assaults, bullying, it's all happening." That's not to imply deterrence is the only goal of officers in schools, he added. "When we're in the schools, it's never been about enforcement or intelligence gathering. It's always been about high fives and smiles and interacting and engaging with youth." Roskamp said his police service is engaged with local school boards and is working to "re-establish, refresh and reimagine the role of the school resource officer." London Police's response to the question of whether they would offer an SRO program to the board included an effort to distance the force from official SRO programs. "We have moved away from the title 'School Resource Officer' and instead focus on broader community engagement," said Peter Testa, head of the LPS community mobilization and support branch. Testa said the LPS has worked closely with school boards in the city to support students, with the goal of promoting positive behaviour and enhancing safety through "mutual respect." He also said the LPS supports boards without the use of an SRO program "by having our officers attending and presenting when requests are made." Regardless of the intentions as stated by police, some students remain opposed to police presence in schools in general. One of those students is Shivani Vimal, who is in grade 11 at the TVDSB's Lord Dorchester Secondary School. "I firmly believe that police officers do not belong in schools. I believe there's a time and place for security personnel, but schools are spaces for learning, growth and trust, and that's just not the place for police officers," she said. A common thread in opposition to officers in schools, especially as stated in the past by previous TVDSB student trustees, is a concern that students from marginalized communities could be made doubly uncomfortable by police presence. "I just feel that it would harm BIPOC students, and it would impact them a lot more than people think," Vimal said. Vimal said the opinions of her peers seem to be divided. However, the prevailing thought is that students "don't want to feel like they're being watched. And they also believe that police officers in schools might just escalate situations." She said she'd rather see funding for social workers and counsellors as a solution, but if the police do return, the process needs to be student-centric and collaborative.
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Boundary adjustments allow for more schools in London and Strathroy
Future boundary adjustments in London and Strathroy will allow for the construction of more schools in growing areas. Future boundary adjustments in London and Strathroy will allow for the construction of more schools in growing areas. The Thames Valley District School Board announced future boundary adjustments in London and Strathroy, which allows for the construction of more schools in growing areas. A new elementary school is under construction in the Summerside neighbourhood and will open as early as September 2026. Some students attending two schools nearby are expected to move to the new facility once it opens. In Strathroy, a new school will be coming to the south end. This will take pressure off Mary Wright Public School, along with three others in the region. According to board members, Grade 8 students will have the option to remain at their current school when the new schools open.
