Toronto Programs

Even as Donna Quan exits TDSB, dysfunction will remain: critic

Education specialist Margaret Wilson says a "culture of fear" at the TDSB will not simply disappear after chair Donna Quan steps down.

'Trustees have too much power,' says education specialist Margaret Wilson

Margaret Wilson conducted a review of the TDSB at the request of Education Minister Liz Sandals. Her report identified a 'culture of fear' at the board. (CBC)

The Toronto District School is looking for a new director.

This is after Donna Quan announced on Monday that she'd be stepping down next month, a full year and a half before her term is set to expire.

She'll be leading a joint research project between York University and the province. During her nearly two years as director, Quan faced controversy over her salary, as well as a report by education specialist Margaret Wilson over the climate at the school board.

That report was highly critical of the board's governance, and expressed concern over a general "culture of fear" there.

Wilson, a guest on Metro Morning on Wednesday, said that culture of fear will not simply disappear with Quan's departure. 

"The culture of fear comes from directors, but also trustees," she said. "The trustees have been territorial over schools, seeing schools as their school."

The trustees, said Wilson, are supposed to be dealing with programming and finances, not the day-to-day management of the board. 

She said David Reid, the chair of the board from 2001 to 2005, "was turfed because he tried to take power from trustees."

His predecessor, Marguerite Jackson, who chaired the board from 1998 to 2001, also ran into trouble, and was seen as trying to usurp trustee power, said Wilson.

"Trustees have too much power," she said.

They have too much influence over hiring and firing, and are communicating with city councillors, which isn't part of the job, said Wilson.

The board needs a cultural shift, she said.

After Quan leaves, there will be a search for a successor. But because previous chairs have faced controversy and early exits, the job will be harder to fill, said Wilson.