Ontario Education Minister Paul Calandra says he’s prepared to move quickly to intervene in struggling school boards once the government’s new governance bill becomes law, telling reporters Monday that several boards, including the Near North District School Board, are already under scrutiny.
Debate on Bill 33, which expands ministerial powers over school board governance, is expected to conclude today, with a vote scheduled for Tuesday after Question Period. Calandra said he anticipates the bill will pass.
“I’ve not shied away from that since taking this position,” he said. “The ministry needs to have more authority to step into boards that have gone off the rails. We have more than enough examples of that.”