Letters to the Editor: August 31, 2024

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In-town retreat

Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).

Thames Valley District school board is offside with their recent retreat in the Toronto.

There is no issue with retreats, which are routine, but there are excellent venues in London.

Honestly, it is hard to believe, given the severity of deficits with which the board already is coping.

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The board needs to disclose the cost to taxpayers.

Gloria McGinn-McTeer, London

Show respect

Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).

I can see why the unions are fuming. The Thames Valley District school board executives just don’t get it.

Taxpayers are paying through the nose and these entitled executives think it is OK to have strategic planning meetings at high-priced hotels? Start showing respect to the taxpayers and conduct your strategy sessions in the board offices in London.

It might be time to look to the Minister of Education to bring the TVDSB under control.

Gregory Lawrence, London

Times have changed

Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).

Mark Fischer says the retreats have been “an industry standard” for the past 16 years.

These boondoggles many have been the norm 16 years ago when times were very different and schools weren’t running deficits, but we’re far from that, now.

We did a lot of things 16 years ago that we don’t do now.

The school board still is living in the past.

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Wake up, or your position may be a position of the past.

Ron McNish, London

Be better stewards

Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).

When I was a young lad and wanted to do something my mother would not allow, my reasoning was, “Everybody else is doing it.” Mother’s response was, “If everyone jumped off the cliff, would you?”

Surprise! Many of our leaders are lemmings. Their backup reasoning is probably, “We have to offer these perks to attract the best employees.” Really? Aren’t the best employees those who are responsible stewards of tax dollars?

I started teaching elementary school in Lambton County in 1972. The Board’s policy then was that all school supplies for elementary students would be supplied by the board, true public education. In 1972, the local trustees set the tax rate. I am confident free school supplies would never have been sacrificed for luxury retreats for the elite.

We have lost local control. Very sad.

Robert Alcock, Watford

Set example

Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).

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Mark Fisher says the retreats are an industry standard. That may be but they don’t need to be held out of town. They missed a great opportunity to show they too will cut expenses just like the employees have to.

If the retreat were held in London, travel expenses would be lower and the local economy benefits.

Also, Fisher’s statement that they’ve gone on for 16 years is not worth mentioning. The school curriculum or best practices are not the same as 16 years ago.

Finally, just because most school boards do this doesn’t mean they leave town. Even if they did, why not be different and set a good example? Employees might respect and appreciate the gesture.

Tom Pint, London

LTC has lost plot

Regarding the article Price tag hits $900K for free student bus passes at London high school (Aug. 28).

Excuse me? $900,000? For 225 students in the first year and 450 the following? At $72 a month for a youth bus pass, it would cost $720 for the 10-month school year for each student, or $162,000 the first year and $324,000 the second year. Where is the other $414,000 going?

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There’s either a lack of transparency about some major missing pieces or there is some seriously questionable things going on.

Jordon Squires, London

Trashing science

I am increasingly concerned about Conservative politicians dismissing science in favour of their own narratives.

We recently heard Conservative politicians demean experts such as London physician Andrea Sereda and Ontario Registered Nurses’ Association CEO Doris Grinspun on safe injection sites, as if Pierre Poilievre and Doug Ford have any expertise whatsoever on the matter.

We need to pay attention to how this is playing out in the U.S. There, we see a complete disregard for truth, deliberate ignorance, dog whistles, and cruelty as political performance. Are we going to accept this in Canada?

Laurie Kay, London

Save farmland

London city council objects to removal of scrub trees on a property on Highbury Avenue to build storage lockers. Meanwhile, the same city council has no problem approving destruction of a much larger area of some of the best farmland in the country for reckless urban sprawl to build more monster homes.

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Does anyone else see the double standard here?

Doug Payne, London

No alternative

Regarding the letter to the editor Stop the spin (Aug. 23) in which Al Gretzky, trying to characterize Glen Pearson’s appreciation of Kamala Harris as failing to be “nonpartisan,” lists her alleged flaws, such as supporting the environment by advocating cancellation of the XL Pipeline.

What makes me tired is the listing of candidate “flaws” as if his was an objective analysis, when the alternative is a con man, demonstrably unfit to occupy the Oval Office, whether you like his policies or not.

Let us look at the big picture and bring character and vision for improving the lives of the downtrodden into the conversation.

Carol Lewis, London

One at a time

I would like to understand the thinking behind all the road repairs. It seems like every intersection and street has construction going on.

Why are there so many major work going on, some of it lasting a year or more? Case in point is the BRT work on the Wellington, York and King streets? Yes, it is a major job, so why are crews not working constantly? I have driven through the area during the work week, but it is deserted of workers.

Why not focus on one major area, get it done and then move on to another project?

Workers should be on the job seven days a week during the summer months, weather permitting. It is ridiculous the amount of unfinished road projects plaguing drivers.

Genevieve Grech, London

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