Fewer people running for trustee in some of Ontario’s supervised school boards

Education Minister Paul Calandra has placed provincial control over eight school boards in Ontario due to financial mismanagement. These boards, including Toronto's public and Catholic schools, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, and the York Catholic District School Board, are under indefinite supervision until they return to effective governance.

Donna Dickson, a trustee running for Ottawa's city council instead, cited her inability to assist parents due to the current restrictions as the reason for her decision to step down. Similarly, Donna Blackburn, another Toronto trustee, expressed uncertainty about the prospects of being seated as a trustee, emphasizing the need for candidates to consider the commitment required.

Despite the challenging circumstances, some trustees are still choosing to run. Yan Zhou, running in Markham for the York Catholic District School Board, believes the supervision period is temporary and stresses the importance of good governance and community representation.

The York Catholic District School Board currently has several positions with only one candidate registered, potentially leading to acclamation. The Toronto Catholic District School Board also faces a similar situation, with five wards having only one candidate. In response, former TCDSB chair Markus de Domenico is set to register for re-election, emphasizing the significance of public participation in local elections.