Preserving Parent Power

Education minister faces questions over $1.7K in Queen’s Park restaurant bills

Matias De Dovitiis, a Toronto District School Board trustee who has previously run for the NDP, said it was hypocritical of Calandra to publish trustee expenses and not make his own available to scrutiny.

“I would like us to move on, but for the sake of transparency, it would be great (if he released his expenses),” he said.

“If he wants to set a moral standard, that’s amazing. But all of our expenses have to be publicly shared on our websites. If anyone ever wanted to look at my expenses, they could. They should be able to do the same for the minister.”

Parents, trustees slam TDSB supervisor’s decisions as ‘Trumpian,’ ‘undemocratic’

TDSB trustee Matias de Dovitiis said he believes Gupta’s approach to his two most recent decisions is a preview of the norm if the government decides to do away with trustees altogether. 

The province’s decision to appoint a supervisor took decision-making power away from the elected board of trustees. In recent days, Education Minister Paul Calandra said the government is considering making that set up permanent by eliminating trustees, and will reach a decision by the end of the year. 

De Dovitiis argued it would be a step in the wrong direction. 

“There should still be committee meetings. There should still be a process for communities to participate,” he said. “I don’t have to agree with 100 per cent of the decision a board makes, but there’s a process that at least gives recourse and space for explanation.” 

“This is a terribly undemocratic move that lacks transparency and accountability,” he said.  

 

Cutting school boards is cutting community

The joy of learning and the joy of play is the same today as it ever was, even if our schools change over time. The same can be said for accountability. The digital age has changed how we talk to each other, but accountability is still needed. We need accountability in our institutions, in our schools and our communities and in our personal lives. The TDSB and TCDSB in Toronto have been suspended by the Ministry of Education and a supervisor has been given control of each respective Board.

TDSB essential programs are on the line, here’s why we must speak up!

By Bibi Safraw

My name is Bibi Safraw Hanif, and I am the Co-Chair of the Firgrove Public School Council as well as a representative for the French as a Second Language Community Advisory Committee (FSLCAC).