Editor’s note: With the introduction by Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra of the Putting Student Achievement First Act, and a number of school boards being put under provincial supervision, concerns have been raised about the role of trustees in Ontario’s education system. Morgan Ste. Marie, chair of the Durham District Catholic School Board, defends the role of trustees and their importance, particularly in Catholic schools.

After a few months of speculation about Ontario school board governance, and the introduction by Education Minister Paul Calandra in mid-April of the Putting Student Achievement First Act, a critical question must be asked: What will happen if we diminish the role of elected school board trustees? 

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Trustees serve as vital links between the community and the education system. We communicate, respond and are accountable to parents, students and local communities, ensuring that the values and needs of those we represent are reflected in school policies and programs. 

In 1968, in a report commissioned by then minister of education and future premier Bill Davis, it was said, “Education in the future will require a greater public involvement, a greater partnership between the home and school, between the community and the school.” If decision-making were centralized and elected representatives replaced with focus groups or parent hotlines, this detachment would diminish public involvement in education and undermine trust. 

For Catholic trustees, we are not only responsible for guiding the mission of Catholic education but also for strategic planning and policy development. This oversight guarantees the maintenance of Catholic denominational rights that predate Confederation. If Catholic trustees or all trustees served in a diminished capacity, central planning could minimize unique benefits by stifling innovation and competition at school boards. 

Trustees know that continuous improvement is vital, families demand it. Could central entities bring insight and awareness of local needs, along with the experience many trustees bring from their varied community or corporate or professional careers outside of education? 

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The associations of elected trustees, much like the unions, have professional labour negotiators to represent school boards during employee contract negotiations. These teams are made up of former school board administrators, lawyers and human resource professionals from the private sector. Would removing this level of professional experience during labour contract negotiations serve the interests of families who voted for their local trustee to represent their interests? 

Trustees are committed to maintaining fiscal responsibility and transparency in their governance and decision making. Though trustees are not perfect, decisions are always made at a public meeting. If responsibility for fiscal management is no longer local, when things go wrong, who is held accountable? 

When things go wrong with elected school boards or any elected government, and we know this happens, voters decide at the ballot box whether those elected officials should continue in their role. 

Trustees advocate for the needs and rights of ratepayers and families within the educational system. We engage in collective bargaining and drive initiatives that support student well-being. Reducing this dedicated layer of advocacy would leave many voices unheard. Who will speak for the quiet ones? Who will speak for students with special education needs? Will you ever see your politically appointed overseer at your child’s school, at a community event or at your church? Who will parents and families talk to when decisions are made unilaterally without their input? 

Publicly funded Catholic schools are not merely alternative educational institutions; they represent a unique approach to learning that embodies Christ-centred values and integrates faith into the curriculum. Trustees are instrumental in fostering an environment where academic excellence goes hand-in-hand with moral and spiritual development. 

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Families deserve the ability to choose their unique blend of academic rigour, moral guidance and community involvement that defines schools across Ontario. This could be jeopardized without the accountability and advocacy that trustees provide. 

(Ste. Marie is chair of the Durham Catholic District School Board.)