Tag: Mark Fisher
Education minister scolds school boards for ‘extravagant expenses’
The heads of Ontarioâs 72 school boards were read the riot act about “inappropriateâ spending on expensive trips, provincial officials say
More cuts loom as Thames Valley board faces $6.4M budget hit
More cuts loom at the Thames Valley District school board as it faces a $6.4-million budget hit on top of its $7.6-million deficit
School board travel scandals: Critic blasts ‘never-ending’ spending woes
A raft of out-of-town â even overseas â trips by school board trustees or officials across Southwestern Ontario have rattled taxpayers and sparked deep reviews by Ontario’s education ministry. Two more cases became public in the past two days, and one long-time critic of the provincial education system believes it’s time for drastic changes. “I […]
School board boss clamps down on executives’ spending after $38K retreat scandal
The regionâs 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 […]
What’s driving spike in ‘anti-social’ conduct in London-area classrooms?
Disturbing behaviour by students in London-area school classrooms are at all-time high, according to Thames Valley District school boardâs top official. Bill Tucker, the London-based board’s interim education director, spoke bluntly to trustees this week about what’s happening with students â including a child in his own family â as young people struggle to overcome […]
Ex-principals join top ranks amid Thames Valley school board upheaval
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 […]
School board to recoup $38K retreat costs – from officials’ expense accounts
The cash-strapped Thames Valley District school board will recoup the $38,000 that 18 officials spent on a three-day retreat at the Toronto Blue Jays stadium hotel, though the senior administrators who attended won’t be out of pocket
Thames Valley teachers sound alarm on budget cuts: ‘Students shortchanged’
Thames Valley teachers are raising alarms over a lack of classroom resources as the school board struggles with a $7.6-million deficit.
Thames Valley enrolment woes will cost board millions: Trustee
A Thames Valley trustee took senior staff to task over inaccurate projections of student enrolment this fall, a miscalculation that could push the board’s $7.6-million deficit deeper in the red. Cathy Lynd, superintendent of business and treasurer of the Thames Valley District school board, told trustees at a board committee meeting on Tuesday that projections […]
School board trustees tee off anew on $38K retreat: ‘How could this happen?’
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 […]