London Free Press

School board boss clamps down on executives’ spending after $38K retreat scandal

3 min read

The region’s largest school board has introduced a new screening process for staff seeking professional development activities in the wake of a Toronto travel scandal that led to a large-scale provincial audit. The Thames Valley District school board came under fire in late August when The Free Press uncovered a three-day retreat by 18 administrators at […]

London Free Press

What’s driving spike in ‘anti-social’ conduct in London-area classrooms?

3 min read

Disturbing behaviour by students in London-area school classrooms are at all-time high, according to Thames Valley District school board’s top official. Bill Tucker, the London-based board’s interim education director, spoke bluntly to trustees this week about what’s happening with students – including a child in his own family – as young people struggle to overcome […]

London Free Press

Ex-principals join top ranks amid Thames Valley school board upheaval

5 min read

Three former principals are joining the top ranks of the troubled Thames Valley District school board after two senior officials took leaves of absence and another exited following a travel scandal that sparked a provincial audit. The three-day August retreat by 18 senior staff members of the cash-strapped school board, Ontario’s fourth-biggest, included first-class train […]

London Free Press

School board trustees tee off anew on $38K retreat: ‘How could this happen?’

6 min read

Thames Valley District school board trustees reacted publicly for the first time on Tuesday night to details of a Toronto retreat by administrators that cost taxpayers more than $38,000 while the organization battles a $7.6-million deficit. The details were officially presented to trustees at a committee meeting following a request from trustee Lori-Ann Pizzolato that […]