Ontario’s Minister of Education has introduced she’s going to audit discretionary spending of all college boards within the province after studies of high-priced journeys by board officers in current months.
Jill Dunlop advised reporters this week that she has been ordered by Ontario Premier Doug Ford to conduct the audits, which can will begin instantly.
School board officers have, in response to information studies, spent hundreds of {dollars} on journeys to Hawaii, Italy, Toronto and St. Catharines.
“Honestly, this is appalling and I’m hearing from taxpayers,” Dunlop mentioned on Thursday. “This is money that is supposed to be spent in the school on teachers and student supports.”
In January, the Lambton Kent District School Board in southwestern Ontario spent greater than $32,000 to ship three employees members to an schooling convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, as reported by CBC London.
In July, three trustees and the board chair from the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board in Brantford, Ont., went on $50,000 journey to South Tyrol in Italy to purchase $100,000 value of artwork for 2 faculties, CBC Hamilton reported.
And in August, 18 senior directors from the Thames Valley District School Board in London, Ont., spent greater than $38,000 on a retreat to Toronto, as first reported by the London Free Press.
Also in response to the London Free Press, 26 senior employees members on the London Catholic District School Board went on a $16,000 two-day journey to St. Catharines in August.
The college board trustees from the Brantford Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board have agreed to pay again the $50,000 they spent in the course of the Italy art-buying journey, which included deluxe lodge rooms, a limo experience and $1,600-gourmet dinner.
Dunlop mentioned the ministry will focus on the problem with board representatives.
“My plan is to meet with the directors of education and to discuss this with them, to let them know this is happening, and to also give them a heads up that maybe it’s a time to come forward and let us know about some of the appalling events that have been going on.”
In the case of the Hawaii journey, Dunlop mentioned there was an choice to attend the convention on-line.
“I think that is something that taxpayers are very concerned about, that money was spent to travel to Hawaii on something that could have been done right in their home area,” Dunlop mentioned.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the spending is unacceptable. ‘The cheese slipped off the cracker with these guys,’ he advised reporters final month. (Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press)
At an unrelated information convention final month, Ford mentioned the journeys are “unacceptable.”
“The cheese slipped off the cracker with these guys,” Ford mentioned.
“I just don’t get it. Common sense. The stories go on and on and on. That’s why I directed our Minister of Education to start doing audits on these school boards. They are the first to scream they need more money,” he added.
“We’re pouring money into school boards and they’re out partying and acting like a bunch of yahoos. Unacceptable. You’re elected. You have to respect the taxpayers’ money.”
Boards dedicated to being clear, affiliation says
Kathleen Woodcock, president of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, mentioned in an announcement on Thursday that faculty boards have not obtained particulars of the potential audits and the way the method will unfold.
“School board trustees across Ontario take their roles very seriously, particularly their commitment to being financially responsible, transparent, and accountable to the communities and students they serve,” Woodcock mentioned.
“We fully support the Minister’s focus on putting resources where they matter most: to benefit students directly. We welcome this opportunity to continue working with the province to advance our shared goals of transparency, accountability, and the best possible outcomes for students across Ontario.”
Chandra Pasma, NDP schooling critic, mentioned the spending was clearly out of line however she questions what is definitely going to occur.
“With the audit, the government didn’t announce any details. They have a habit of policy by press release, and then sometimes they don’t even follow through. It’s not clear to us what this audit would look like, so we will continue to keep an eye on it and push the government to make sure this is an appropriate response to the situation” Pasma mentioned.
