The Near North school board says it will “promptly address” concerns raised in a provincial report that lambasted trustees and the director of education for a lack of leadership and poor communication with parents.
Chair Ashley St. Pierre said in a statement that the “board acknowledges receipt of the ministry’s report and affirms its commitment to promptly address all identified items. Actions in alignment with the minister’s direction have already commenced.”
Education Minister Paul Calandra ordered a senior ministry staffer to probe governance issues at the North Bay-based board after parents were outraged over last-minute notice that a new kindergarten to Grade 12 school would not open in September as promised. Instead, students were dispersed to other schools, and teenagers forced to learn online for the first two weeks of class.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
The report, released last week, looked at the Parry Sound situation but also detailed trustee conflict, as well as a director of education who leads “in the shadows” and noted his office was in a shut-down school three kilometres away from board headquarters.
While construction issues are to blame for the Parry Sound delay, the report said that overall, trustees were ill-informed of their role and responsibilities, and that the director “has not demonstrated the visible and accountable leadership that is expected — and indeed required — of his position,” and as a result, has lost community confidence. The director has not responded to the Star’s requests for comment.
Calandra has now ordered the board to hire an expert to help conduct “a robust, transparent director of education performance appraisal” following established guidelines, create a professional development plan for all trustees, and hold monthly open meetings regarding the still-unfinished Parry Sound school.
(There is still no firm opening date for the $58 million school in Parry Sound, which has been under construction for two years.)
He also ordered the director of education to work out of the North Bay headquarters and take some professional development.
Calandra has also given the board two weeks to create a “community engagement plan detailing measures that will be undertaken in order to restore public confidence.”
