Opposition calls Ontario school board takeover 'power grab,' as trustees say they've received little direction

Since the Ontario government took over the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) two weeks ago, elected trustee Matias de Dovitiis says he's only received two emails with directions from his province-appointed supervisor.

One of those directions was to refrain from communicating with the community members who elected him, de Dovitiis, who represents Humber River-Black Creek, said at a news conference Thursday.

"To think that we can take away those 22 community voices … and just put out a 1-800 number and have people be able to navigate this massive institution is just not realistic," he said.

De Dovitiis was joined by Ontario New Democratic Party Leader Marit Stiles, as well as education advocates, parents and other trustees at Fairmount Park, where they spoke out against the Progressive Conservative government's decision.

Last month, the province appointed supervisors to the TDSB, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board.

Since the takeover, de Dovitiis said that parents are being redirected to a general email, which he's not sure is getting them answers.

Support is starting to disappear, said Kamin Peyrow, a mom of two boys, one of whom is a kindergartener in a wheelchair. 

"I voted in my election for my local school board trustee. And now I feel like my vote has become silenced under supervision," she said. "This shouldn't be a fight. All children deserve to be supported consistently and with dignity."

The move to take over school boards came after Education Minister Paul Calandra said financial investigations into the boards showed growing deficits and depletion of reserves.

The province is working to restore accountability in the education system, Calandra told CBC Toronto in an emailed statement Thursday.

"I am focused on listening to parents and teachers about how we can set students up for success, and less concerned about the opinions of trustees that have failed in their most basic responsibility: putting students first," he said. 

He also said the New Democratic and Liberal parties are choosing to side with trustees, rather than students.

"They protect broken boards and oppose accountability. While they fight to support out-of-touch school board trustees, we will fight for students, parents, and teachers," he said.

But Stiles called the move a "power grab," accusing Premier Doug Ford of "playing political games with our kids' futures." 

"Now local schools are being run by inexperienced political insiders, while elected local school board trustees are forbidden from talking to parents about their kids' education," Stiles said. 

CBC Toronto emailed Calandra's office several questions Thursday, that included asking him to respond to Stiles' claims the takeover was a power grab, but the minister did not directly answer them in his statement.

Ottawa MPP Chandra Pasma, who is the NDP's education critic, claimed the appointed supervisors are affiliated with the Progressive Conservatives.

"They appointed four supervisors with no expertise in education whatsoever, with no experience in children's psychology or well-being," she said. "Their only qualifications are that they are Conservative insiders, that they've made donations, that they've run for the Conservatives before."

Rick Byers, who was appointed to supervise the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, is a former PC MPP. His background lies in finance and auditing.

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board supervisor Robert Plamondon ran federally for the Progressive Conservatives in 1988 and currently serves on several audit and governance committees. 

Frank Benedetto, who was appointed supervisor of the TCDSB, is a legal professional who works with Ontario Environment Minister Todd McCarthy's private law offices. 

And Rohit Gupta is a former advisor to Metrolinx who will now supervise the TDSB.