The Ontario government has appointed Patrick Case to review the Toronto District School Board's (TDSB) field trip policies and events after students attended a trip to a political demonstration last month. Mr. Case will review the TDSB's policies, procedures and practices, including their implementation, after parents raised serious safety concerns.
"The safety and well-being of students should always come first in our classrooms. Publicly funded schools should never be used as vehicles of political protest, ideology or discrimination," said Jill Dunlop, Minister of Education. "We have a responsibility to act when a school board fails to take appropriate action. Through this review, we are helping to ensure that schools across the province prioritize the health, safety and inclusion of all students and their learning environment."
Mr. Case previously served as the Ministry of Education's Chief Equity Officer and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Education Equity and Governance Secretariat from 2017- 2024 and was one of two reviewers appointed to undertake the 2017 review of the York Region District School Board. He is a leading voice in education policy and will deliver a report following the review, including recommendations to ensure student safety is prioritized, before the end of the year.
This review is a necessary step to address this pressing issue and examine where gaps may exist, so that the TDSB can prevent such matters from occurring in the future.
Based on the final report, the ministry will determine next steps to ensure TDSB classrooms are a safe place for students and staff, with a focus on learning, not politics.
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