STICKY-FINGER TRUSTEES SHOULD BE CHARGED AND SHOWN THE DOOR

by Cathy Cove
copyright - Goderich Signal Star

Over the past months newspapers in the province have been replete with the revelations of another school board’s alleged misuse of public funds.

This time it’s the Toronto Catholic School Board under the microscope of provincial investigator Norbert Hartman, who was called in by Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne to begin sorting out a mess of Machiavellian proportions.

It is widely expected that Wynne will appoint a supervised takeover of the Toronto Catholic board.

Minister Wynne, so far holds the record for sending in the provincial troops to straighten out financially troubled school boards. Her iron-fist in s a velvet-glove approach seems to be a more welcome intervention than was the Harris sledgehammer.

Make no mistake though, the penalty for any public official in a statutory role, whether, member of federal/provincial parliament, town councillor, mayor, school council representative or school board trustee, when it involves the public purse, if proven, must be swift and severe.

The education act deems that if a school board trustee is convicted of an indictable offense he or she must vacate their seat.

While no charges have been laid on TCDSB trustees for things like double-billing for meals not once but ten times, charging mileage for a trip to Florida, billing for rent space in their home offices and making donations to local schools for equipment, that possibility does exist, pending the investigator’s findings.

Could it happen in our local board? Yes, But not likely.

The Avon-Maitland District School Board and Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board are guided by strict bylaws.

Allowable expenses for AMDSB trustees include transportation, professional development, travel and hospitality.

A quick trip board Governance Bylaw No. 9 – Section 10 on the board’s website will give the public a thorough breakdown of what’s allowed, and what’s not.

In the words of Geoff Williams, “This board demonstrates the highest ethical standards and sense of moral purpose, and as a result is leading a system that is moving forward. Our trustees approach their jobs with passion, dedication and a singular focus on what is right.”

Similarly proud of the ethical fortitude of his school board, HCDSB director Larry Langan shared that their trustees are guided by the clear expense policies.

Director Langan signs-off on and approves any expenses incurred by the trustees.

In Langan’s case the trustees must approve HIS expenses, so the checks and balance also works in the reverse.

A look at the allowable expenses by HPCDSB trustees and board staff on their website one will find a similar listing of PD, travel expenses, and meals.

In addition, the HPCDSB website offers a handy chart which allows the public to see what is acceptable for the director and supervisors in terms of expenses, plus a sample of a travel expense form that must be submitted for approval.

In 2000 Bill 74 expanded the use of investigations, allowing for the Minister of Education to direct an investigation into the affairs of a school board if he/she has a concern or by a school council or tax supporter of the board who files a complaint with the Minister.

One of the reasons the previous government capped trustee honoraria might have been to reduce the temptation by some large boards to inflate trustee salaries that saw some receive over $60,000 plus an office, secretary and bloated expense claim budgets.

Small, rural boards never had that luxury, so when Harris capped the trustee honorarium at $5,000 the impact wasn’t felt as strongly.

In a situation where the public trust is undermined, the public needs reassurance that such alleged abuse will not be tolerated and action must be taken. This would apply equally to any individual in representative role who is elected by and accountable to a constituency.

Where a school board is severely dysfunctional, it would also be acceptable for a Minister of Education to disband the board entirely as happened in 1999 when the Alberta government turfed the Calgary school board and most recently in Nova Scotia in 2006 when the government disbanded the Halifax
board.

Perhaps Ontario is ready to develop something similar.

The voting public, come municipal election time, has a responsibility to become more knowledgeable and aware of the quality of trustees they elect to represent their interests and trust with the delivery of education to children.

A total reworking of the educational governance model in Ontario is long overdue. Every provincial government over the last forty years has made noises about shifting the balance to improve things, but not one has managed to pull it together enough with any effectiveness.

It’s time.
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SCIENTIA EST POTENTIA
Knowledge is power