October 20-24 is Local Government Week and as part of their advocacy efforts the Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) Trustees are expressing deep concern over recent comments by Minister of Education Paul Calandra suggesting that elected school trustees could be removed from Ontario's education governance model.
"Our Board of Trustees is urging our local Members of Provincial Parliament to stand up for democracy in education," said Michael Bannerman, Chair of the Board. "Trustees are the local voice of parents and caregivers, students, and communities. Eliminating trustees would silence that voice and concentrate decision-making at Queen's Park."
In recent years, AMDSB trustees have worked directly with parents and municipalities on important local issues - from boundary reviews in Stratford and North Perth, to school bus safety concerns, to the sudden loss of childcare in South Huron. In each case, trustees listened to families, gathered feedback through surveys and open houses, and ensured that local perspectives shaped the Board's final decisions. In addition, the AMDSB trustees recently passed a balanced budget for the 2025-2026 school year, highlighting the process that is undertaken each year to ensure ongoing fiscal responsibility.
"Trustees are not employees of the Ministry," added Bannerman. "They are elected community members who provide independent oversight, raise local concerns, and ensure that decisions about our children's education reflect the needs of our communities."
The Board emphasized that school trustees are governed by strong accountability rules, including mandatory Codes of Conduct, the requirement to hire independent Integrity Commissioners, and public reporting requirements, introduced by the Ministry in January 2025.
"Dismissing the system as dysfunctional ignores the fact that most boards function well and take swift, transparent action when issues arise," Bannerman said. "The government has just strengthened trustee accountability - now is not the time to eliminate trustees and undo that progress."
AMDSB also noted that voter turnout for trustee elections is similar to other municipal positions, averaging 36% across Ontario, and that trustees' honoraria represent a fraction of a percent of school board budgets.
"Eliminating trustees will not improve education outcomes," said Bannerman. "It will remove the democratic process that gives parents and caregivers and communities a say in decisions that directly affect them."
The Avon Maitland District School Board is calling on all local representatives to:
- Publicly oppose any proposal to remove elected school trustees from Ontario's governance model.
- Advocate to the Minister of Education and Cabinet that communities need more, not less, local voice in education.
- Support a transparent, evidence-based dialogue that strengthens, rather than undermines, local democracy.
They are also calling on parents, students and community members to speak up and contact their local MPP office if they care about this issue.
Perth County: MPP Matthew Rae (matthew.rae@pc.ola.org)
Huron County: MPP Lisa Thompson (lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org)
"Trustees are the bridge between the community and the classroom," concluded Bannerman. "When families have concerns, they turn to their trustees. That connection must not be broken."
For more information
62 Chalk Street North
Seaforth Ontario
Canada N0K 1W0
www.amdsb.ca/
