The Ford government in Ontario is closely examining the financial practices of school boards, and an investigation by CityNews has uncovered costly internal disputes within the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB). These disputes have led to taxpayer expenses totalling nearly $208,000.
According to a freedom of information request obtained by CityNews, disagreements among trustees within the YCDSB have resulted in significant financial losses. Michael Totten, President of the York Catholic Teachers’ union, expressed concerns over the impact of this expenditure on classroom resources, emphasizing that the funds could have been better utilized to support students’ educational needs.
The conflicts at YCDSB revolve around trustee Teresa McNicol, who faced accusations of breaching the trustee code of conduct following disagreements with other board members. Despite a judge ruling in McNicol’s favor in a legal review, the board incurred substantial costs while contesting the allegations.
Education Minister Paul Calandra has cited instances of wasteful spending in various school boards as a basis for proposing the removal of elected trustees at five major Ontario school boards, replacing them with government-appointed supervisors. While YCDSB was not among the affected boards, there are concerns about the potential elimination of trustees across Ontario.
While advocating for stronger provincial oversight of elected trustees, Michael Totten highlighted the importance of channeling resources towards classroom support rather than internal disputes. He also emphasized the vital role of elected trustees in representing and serving local communities.
The YCDSB has revised its code of conduct policy and remains committed to effective governance for staff, students, and families.