Ontario's takeover of 4 school boards reflects growing provincial role in education: expert

Ontario's decision to appoint supervisors to four more school boards — including the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) — is part of the government's ongoing bid to assert its own vision of schooling, a policy and education expert says.

Education Minister Paul Calandra announced the appointments last Friday, citing mismanagement, including structural financial issues, among the boards.

But Sachin Maharaj, an assistant professor of educational leadership, policy and program evaluation at the University of Ottawa, said the move is "about much more than just financial and budget matters, and more about the province trying to take direct control over schools in Toronto."

Maharaj pointed to other ways the province is trying to increase its influence over school boards, including its controversial bill that would bring police officers back to public schools.

The supervisors began their work immediately after they were appointed. Since school boards operate under provincial legislation, Maharaj said it is unlikely they can block the supervisor appointments.

"We're going to have to see what the province intends to do with this enhanced control," he said in an interview with CBC Radio's Metro Morning on Monday.

CBC Toronto has reached out to the Ministry of Education for comment.

In addition to the TDSB, the province is appointing the supervisors to the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board.

This follows the government's decision in April to place the Thames Valley District School Board under supervision.

CBC Toronto reached out to the TDSB and TCDSB for comment. The TDSB referred questions to the Ministry of Education.

A spokesperson for the Toronto Catholic District School Board referred CBC Toronto to an online community update, in which the board says its "senior leadership team will work closely with the Supervisor to minimize any impact on students and classroom learning."

The update also says the board's focus "will remain on what matters most: supporting student success."

Speaking at Friday's announcement, Calandra said "a broader rethink" of school board governance structure is required.

"This is an important first step," he said.

Ontario's actions are part of a national trend of provinces asserting more control over public education, Maharaj said. In Nova Scotia and Quebec, elected school boards have been eliminated entirely, he said.

But he said people can feel unheard if they no longer have an elected school board representative who can advocate on their behalf.

"Communities feel that they no longer have a voice in the way schools are run," he said.

In Ontario, past provincial takeovers of school boards have typically lasted a few years before the board was restored, Maharaj said.

"But we can see from the current Ministry of Education an appetite to rest even more power in the hands of the province," he said.