Ontario Government Assumes Control of Near North School Board Due to Mismanagement

Post by : Mina Rahman

The provincial authorities in Ontario have decided to take charge of the Near North District School Board due to persistent issues and non-compliance with ministry directives.

Education Minister Paul Calandra announced that this action follows a report revealing significant leadership challenges within the board. “I cannot allow the incompetence of a board to hinder student success,” he remarked, stressing that this decision reflects a commitment to hold boards accountable.

The ministry's findings pointed to a “leadership deficit” from the director of education and a deteriorating relationship between trustees and management. Reviewer Rachel Osborne indicated that the current leadership offers no path to rebuild public trust.

Recently, the minister issued 15 mandatory directives to the board, which included developing a professional growth plan for trustees and enlisting an external expert to assess the director’s performance. The board’s failure to meet 10 out of these directives within the established timelines has led to this provincial oversight.

A supervisor will be appointed to manage the board, while Calandra himself provides interim oversight. This intervention marks the sixth instance of a school board in Ontario being placed under direct provincial governance, joining boards in prominent areas such as Ottawa, Toronto, and Peel.

This move clearly emphasizes the government’s focus on student-centered governance and indicates stricter monitoring for boards facing management issues.