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Poor leadership
Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).
I recall the anticipation I felt every year at this time as I prepared my classroom for new students by getting new displays up, updating course content and making sure my room had basic supplies.
My heart aches for new teachers who have to stop at Staples or Costco to outfit their rooms as the board has cut 124 teacher jobs, along with textbook and supply budgets, while it seems to be business as usual at the senior administration.
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Lee Iacocca worked for $1 a year as Chrysler Corp. dug itself out of debt in the 1980s and paid back government loans early. Employees got behind him, as he walked the talk during a challenging era.
I wish all students and teachers well as the new school year begins.
Jeff Ste. Marie, London
Did they carpool?
Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).
It will be interesting to see the final list of expenses for Thames Valley District school board executives’ bonding trip to Toronto.
Were there train tickets or 20 car expenses and parking costs? Fine dining is a must.
The best remedy for this junket is to divide the final total by 18 and have each of these well-heeled employees pay their portion of the bill. Especially considering the $7-million deficit the TVDSB plans under the leadership of this executive group.
R. Webb, London
Cut executive pay
Regarding the article Thames Valley director defends Toronto retreat (Aug. 28).
Thames Valley District school board executives must be made to justify the generous salary increases they gave themselves or reverse them to more acceptable levels. And they should be required to pay back all expenses and costs of their retreat.
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Taxpayers’ money is to be used for the educational needs of all students, not for the benefit and enjoyment of self-serving individuals.
Johanne Nichols, London
Brace yourself
Our beleaguered prime minister would have us believe he has undergone some sort of a conversion on the road to Halifax.
His horrid polling numbers are a result of many of his badly conceived governance polices and his desperation to cling to power is becoming clear. We need to brace ourselves for a blizzard of announcements to fix the issues that most concern voters.
On the matter of immigration, much more than simply adjusting the rules for temporary foreign workers must be undertaken to address the myriad issues besetting that file. The country simply does not have the necessary infrastructure to support the number of newcomers entering Canada and, as a result, is placing tremendous pressure on housing, health care, social services, food banks and schools.
New immigrants need and deserve those services and, as such, those supports should be commensurate with the level of immigrants arriving in our country.
Dennis Tschirhart, Simcoe
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