Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra has announced that the province is establishing offices within school boards for parents to escalate issues beyond their school — starting with five boards currently under supervision.
Calandra says the Student and Family Support Offices will give families clear answers and timely solutions for their children’s education.
The province has taken control of five boards due to what it calls mismanagement and the government says the offices in those boards will open in January and all other boards will be expected to open their offices by Sept. 1.
Calandra has said he can’t see ever handing the boards currently under supervision back to trustees and he is also looking closely at eliminating the position of trustee entirely.
The Progressive Conservative government is also fast-tracking a bill that would allow the minister of education to more easily place school boards under supervision.
Calandra has suggested that once the bill passes, the government will take control of more school boards.