Public school trustees review new school board legislation

There are plenty of changes for trustees to ponder in new legislation passed recently at Queen’s Park.

The Putting Student Achievement First Act is intended to strengthen oversight and accountability among English-language boards.

Education Minister Paul Calandra has said the changes move Ontario toward a more accountable, consistent and modern model that better serves students, families and educators.

The legislation puts new limits on trustee expenses and honoraria, and requires them to pay for their own membership to trustee organizations.

It also creates new Chief Executive Officers responsible for the financial and operational aspects of the board and Chief Education Officers focusing on student achievement.

Chair of the Rainy River District School Board, Kathryn Pierroz, says one of the major themes is the shift from local autonomy toward increased provincial oversight and centralization.

“Historically, boards had greater discretion in areas such as governance, structure, budgeting, policy direction, capital planning,” says Pierroz.

“Under Bill 101, many of those areas now involve a stronger ministry authority, approval requirements, and provincially defined expectations around those.”

Trustees reviewed the legislation at their meeting in June.

Pierroz says it also places stronger clarity of the roles between trustees and administration.

“For trustees, this means continuing to advocate strongly for students and communities while adapting governance practices within a more centralized and accountable focus system,” says Pierroz.

Trustees also approved changes to existing by-laws to reflect the new legislation.