Toronto Star: School trustees aren’t perfect, but the Ford government’s supposed fix is worse

Education Minister Paul Calandra at a press conference at Queen’s Park on June 27, 2025 Michelle Mengsu. Chang/Toronto Star

Michelle Mengsu Chang Toronto Star

Education Minister Paul Calandra said, “Just a few more sleeps and you’ll be able to see where we’re going.” A few sleeps later, we can. Ontario’s new school governance bill would cut the Toronto District School Board from 22 trustees to 12, create new chief executive officer and chief education officer roles, and allow budget matters to be referred to the minister for decision when trustees cannot reach agreement. I don’t like what I see: less local democracy, weaker public oversight, and more centralized control over public education.

This is not accountability. It is centralization.