Under the new legislation, the number of elected trustees will be standardized to a maximum of 12 per board, significantly reducing the current number of trustees at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) from 22 to 12. Additionally, trustees’ honorariums will be capped at $10,000, and they will have limited power over the finances of the school boards they oversee.

The role of trustees will shift to primarily representing parents and students, as the new legislation establishes two oversight roles: a chief executive officer (CEO) and a chief education officer (CEO). The chief executive officer will be responsible for financial and operational matters and must possess business qualifications, while the chief education officer will focus on student achievement and must hold pedagogical qualifications.

Education Minister Paul Calandra stated, “The goal is to reduce the amount of distractions,” highlighting the intention behind these changes. However, critics have voiced concerns that these reforms diminish the essential powers trustees need to effectively represent families and students. David Mastin, a trustee, remarked, “This legislation removes the essential powers trustees need to genuinely represent families and students.”

Furthermore, the new rules will prevent trustees from billing taxpayers for personal accessories and unnecessary expenses, following instances where four trustees spent $190,000 on a trip to Italy, which led to public outrage and a subsequent $63,000 expenditure to manage the fallout.

The government is also planning to mandate teachers to use approved learning resources and introduce mandatory written exams for grades 9-12. In a move to ensure accountability, the minister of education will have the authority to intervene in budget decisions if trustees cannot reach an agreement.

These governance changes come after the province has placed eight school boards under provincial supervision in recent months, indicating a push for more oversight in the education sector. As the reforms unfold, it remains to be seen how these changes will impact the functioning of school boards and the representation of parents and students.

Details remain unconfirmed regarding the timeline for implementing these changes and how they will be received by the broader educational community. Chandra Pasma, an education advocate, criticized the reforms, stating, “This is another power grab by the Minister, shutting parents and communities out of our own schools.”

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