London Free Press

Queen’s Park to audit Thames Valley school board amid stadium retreat fallout

3 min read

The provincial government is launching a sweeping probe of the region’s largest school board, under fire after The Free Press uncovered a three-day retreat that sent 18 administrators to Toronto’s baseball stadium hotel – costing nearly $40,000. In a forceful statement Friday evening, Education Minister Jill Dunlop announced a comprehensive review of the cash-strapped Thames […]

London Free Press

School board brass should repay some stadium hotel retreat costs: Critic

6 min read

Critics are blasting an “incredibly disappointing” move by administrators at the region’s largest school board to spend nearly $40,000 on a Toronto ballpark hotel retreat, with one taxpayer advocate calling on the staff to pay back part of the expense.   Following a request from elected trustees, the Thames Valley District school board revealed Thursday […]

London Free Press

London police board spent $104K on PR firm to sell high-spending budget

8 min read

The London police board paid a prominent public relations firm more than $100,000 to help sell its controversial high-spending budget earlier this year, according to documents obtained by The Free Press. One city councillor called it “disturbing” to learn the board used taxpayers’ money to win support from the public and politicians for the $672-million, […]

London Free Press

Thames Valley school board brass spent $40K on Blue Jays stadium hotel retreat

5 min read

Administrators with the cash-strapped Thames Valley District school board spent nearly $40,000 on a three-day retreat at the Toronto Blue Jays stadium hotel amid a $7.6-million budget deficit that’s prompted deep cuts, including to funding for kids’ field trips. The exact cost, $38,444.92, was revealed Thursday by trustee Beth Mai, chair of the school board. […]

London Free Press

Trustee: Tell public full cost of school board brass stay at Blue Jays stadium hotel

3 min read

A trustee with the cash-strapped Thames Valley District school board wants taxpayers to know the full cost of a three-day August retreat to the former SkyDome Hotel in Toronto by 18 senior administrators. “It’s public dollars and the public should know how much was spent,” Lori-Ann Pizzolato said following a Tuesday night debate with a […]