As Ontario observes Local Government Week, Avon Maitland District School Board (AMDSB) Trustees are urging the provincial government to preserve the role of elected school trustees.
The board expressed deep concern over recent comments by Minister of Education Paul Calandra suggesting that trustees could be removed from Ontario’s education governance model.
Michael Bannerman, Chair of the Board, emphasized the importance of trustees as the local voice for parents, caregivers, students, and communities.
“Trustees are the local voice of parents and caregivers, students, and communities. Eliminating trustees would silence that voice and concentrate decision-making at Queen’s Park,” he said.
In recent years, AMDSB trustees have worked directly with parents and municipalities on a range of local issues, including boundary reviews in Stratford and North Perth, school bus safety concerns, and the sudden loss of childcare in South Huron. Trustees listened to families, gathered feedback through surveys and open houses, and ensured local perspectives shaped the board’s final decisions. The board also recently passed a balanced budget for the 2025-2026 school year, demonstrating its commitment to fiscal responsibility.
“Trustees are not employees of the Ministry,” Bannerman added. “They are elected community members who provide independent oversight, raise local concerns, and ensure that decisions about our children’s education reflect the needs of our communities.”
The board noted that trustees are governed by strong accountability rules, including mandatory Codes of Conduct, the requirement to hire independent Integrity Commissioners, and public reporting requirements introduced by the Ministry in January 2025.
“Dismissing the system as dysfunctional ignores the fact that most boards function well and take swift, transparent action when issues arise," added Bannerman "The government has just strengthened trustee accountability – now is not the time to eliminate trustees and undo that progress.”
AMDSB pointed out that voter turnout for trustee elections averages 36 per cent across Ontario, comparable to other municipal positions, and that trustees’ honoraria make up only a fraction of school board budgets. Bannerman stressed that removing trustees would not improve education outcomes, but would eliminate the democratic process that gives parents, caregivers, and communities a voice in decisions affecting them.
The board is calling on all local representatives to publicly oppose any proposal to remove elected trustees, advocate for more local voice in education, and support transparent, evidence-based dialogue that strengthens local democracy. Parents, students, and community members are also encouraged to contact their local MPP offices if they care about the issue.
“Trustees are the bridge between the community and the classroom,” Bannerman concluded. “When families have concerns, they turn to their trustees. That connection must not be broken.”
Graham Shantz serves as Director of Education and Secretary of the Board.
