'Momentous decision' as province takes over TVDSB operations from trustees
Provinces alleges poor financial mismanagement at London's public school board
In what one teachers' union representative is calling a "momentous decision," Ontario's education ministry has announced it will appoint a supervisor to temporarily take control of London's public school board away from its elected trustees, alleging poor financial management.
In announcing the move Wednesday, Education Minister Paul Calandra said he will appoint a supervisor of the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) after a report found it demonstrated "extremely poor judgement" in the use of public funds.
The move comes after the province conducted a review in the wake of a staff retreat to Toronto that cost about $40,000 and included a stay at the hotel connected to the Rogers Centre, where the Blue Jays play.
The province appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to investigate the Thames Valley board's finances. It found the board has been running "significant" deficits for several years, which meant cutbacks to services for students.
Calandra said the investigation found "that a lack of financial oversight in the budgeting process has led to a deteriorating financial position."
"Yet, sending senior board officials to a retreat at the luxury SkyDome hotel in downtown Toronto was a priority amid a multi-billion dollar budget deficit," he said.
On Wednesday, CBC News was directed to the Ministry of Education when TVDSB interim education director Bill Tucker and board chair Beth Mai were asked for comment.
CBC News also emailed all of the board's trustees for comment but did not receive a reply.
Craig Smith, president of the Thames Valley local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), said it's a significant step but may be necessary to fix an organization that has a projected deficit of almost $17 million for this year.
"It's a momentous decision," said Smith.
"I'm sure the province would rather be doing other things than managing the affairs of the Thames Valley school board, but it's a significant amount of public money, and there are obviously some things that need to be re-calibrated and some trust that needs to be rebuilt."
London's isn't the only Ontario school board in hot water with the province.
Calandra has ordered the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to repay the cost of the board trip to Italy, as well as the $100,000 spent on art.
School board officials said in November 2024 they'd pay back the $50,000 they spent during the art-buying trip, including money spent on deluxe hotel rooms, a limo ride and $1,600 gourmet dinner.
The province is also launching investigations at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District
School Board and the Toronto District School Board over ongoing financial deficits and spending concerns.
In London's case, it was the retreat to the Rogers Centre hotel that put the TVDSB in the province's crosshairs.
TVDSB leadership revealed the price tag of sending 18 staffers to the retreat in September 2024 at $40,000, prompting sharp criticism from education unions and the public.
In a news release, the province said the investigators found non-compliance with compensation rules for senior executives.
The release said the board recommended that control of the board "be vested in the ministry."
"This will allow the board to get back on track and undertake the necessary steps to improve its financial position," the board said.
Former TVDSB education director Mark Fisher was on leave when he resigned in March. Last September, Bill Tucker returned from retirement and was appointed temporary director after Fisher went on leave.
The London school board isn't the only institution under review. London Health Sciences Centre, which runs three hospitals, is also undergoing a detailed organizational review before it will consider replacing its board and CEO.
With files from The Canadian Press