Uxbridge trustees reject elimination

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Carolyn Morton and Richard Damianopoulos, Uxbridge trustees on the Durham District School Board and Durham District Catholic School Board respectively, are both critical of Education Minister Paul Calandra's recent threat to eliminate school trustees and take over school boards.

Durham District School Board trustee for Uxbridge/Brock/Scugog Carolyn Morton

"It's extremely disappointing," said Morton. "My life has been in education and I value the work of trustees."

Damianopoulos said Calandra's pronouncement, made last week, was "extremely unfortunate" and said he hopes the education minister does not proceed with the plan.

"School trustees are fundamentally important," he said. "They are democratically elected. There is no democracy more important than local democracy."

Morton said she thinks the public should "step up and voice their concerns." She said trustees are the go-between for the public and the school boards.

"I think (Calandra's proposal) requires additional thought." she said. "I'm eager to get back to work."

Durham District Catholic School Board trustee for Uxbridge/Brock/Scugog Richard Damianopoulos

Continuing his thoughts on democracy, Damianopoulos said Calandra's proposal is damaging to communities.

"Those elected do a lot on their boards and in the community," he said. "Under the province's proposal, they're removed from the community."

Earlier this month, Calandra threatened to take over school boards just as the Ford government has already taken over the management of a handful of school boards, appointing supervisors to replace trustees. Calandra cited financial mismanagement as the reason for the takeover putting all 72 Ontario boards on notice and telling them they must direct money to classrooms.