The York Region District School Board has approved a plan for extensive equity and governance training for trustees and senior staff to meet the deadlines for the first set of directives set out by the education ministry after a scathing report that documented widespread dysfunction in the board. At a special meeting Thursday night, the board’s 11 trustees — who were described in the report released earlier this month as dysfunctional, unaccountable and lacking “a basic understanding of their roles and responsibilities” as elected leaders — approved a plan that would see them receive retraining in governance, and three three-hour sessions in equity training. The board also outlined an extensive multi-year plan for “rebuilding trust and re-engaging with communities in the board,” which includes the implementation of the “every student counts” survey to collect race-based data, town halls with parents, and increased collaboration with community and faith groups. “Today we are making good on that commitment by delivering thorough and concrete plans to address the first set of her recommendations,” said Board chair Loralea Carruthers. “Our detailed plan to rebuild trust with the community demonstrates our commitment to rebuild our board in an open, transparent and collaborative way.” Earlier this month, Education Minister Mitzie Hunter issued a list of 22 directives for the York board to implement after a three-month investigation painted a troubling picture of a board in crisis. The reviewers noted a lack of “strong and ethical leadership” by trustees and the director.“Their observations are profoundly troubling to me, particularly those which describe feelings of alienation, marginalization, and discrimination expressed by a large number of individuals and groups in the board’s communities, including students, parents, and staff,” Hunter wr ...
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