Education minister tells TVDSB top brass Toronto trip 'calls into question' fiscal responsibility
The cost of the 3-day trip has not been made public by the Thames Valley District School Board
Ontario's Education Minister is questioning the decision to send 18 Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) top administrators to Toronto on a retreat earlier this month pointing to the responsibility of decision-makers to wisely spend taxpayer dollars.
The London District Catholic School Board also sent its leadership team on an overnight trip to St. Catharines this summer.
In a statement sent by Jill Dunlop's spokesperson Thursday, the minister expressed that school board officials are stewards of taxpayer dollars and they need to show parents, teachers and community members that they are getting those public funds into classrooms.
"When our government is making the largest investment in public education in the province's history, we expect school boards to get that funding into classrooms to increase supports for students and better equip teachers," wrote spokesperson Edyta McKay.
"That means showing parents, teachers and community members that the school board can be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars – something this retreat has brought into question."
The three-day TVDSB retreat on Aug. 19 - 21 saw leadership travel to Toronto and stay in the Marriott City Centre Hotel located inside the Rogers Centre. Room rates start at $330.
CBC News has asked for the cost of the trip, but Director Mark Fisher was not able to provide a figure. In an interview on London Morning Tuesday, Fisher said the hotels were booked at a discounted rate and were budgeted for last year.
The Catholic school board is also not saying how much it spent on the trip to St. Catharines.
The TVDSB is currently facing a $7.6-million budget deficit and earlier this year, floated the possibility of job cuts.
Board chair speaks
TVDSB Chair Beth Mai responded after several days to questions about the trip. In a general statement, she said the school board "takes the matter seriously" and that trustees are "dedicated to upholding the trust that the public places in us to manage resources effectively and in the best interest of our students."
Mai said the board of trustees will "take necessary steps to address the issue," including strengthening policies.