Since the Ministry of Education's takeover of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, Minister Paul Calandra has announced his intention to eliminate the role of school board trustees altogether. This decisions is deeply concerning and poses several risks to students and families of marginalised communities, including Palestinian Canadians. School board trustees have on multiple occasions advocated for the rights of Palestinian students and and voted in favour of school board initiatives to support Palestinian students.

School trustees are the bridge between the education system and the public, providing democratic governance, accountability, and advocacy for student success. They represent the public’s voice in education, ensuring that schools meet the needs of students, families, and communities.

Eliminating School Trustees Would Harm Ontario’s Education System and would have negative consequences, including:

• Threat to Human Rights and Ethics – Trustees uphold the Education Act’s Code of Conduct and human rights obligations. Removing them weakens protections against discrimination and unethical practices.

• Erosion of Community Engagement and Loss of Democratic Voice – Trustees are elected by the public and connect schools to local communities to address concerns and foster collaboration. Without them, parents and communities lose a vital democratic channel in education and lose representation.

• Depreciated Accountability – Trustees provide oversight of school boards, ensuring directors and administrators are held accountable. Eliminating them would centralize power and reduce transparency.

• Reduced Equity and Inclusion – Trustees advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion. Their absence risks sidelining Indigenous, immigrant, and minority communities.

• Financial Risks – Trustees approve and monitor budgets, safeguarding taxpayer dollars. Without their oversight, the risk of mismanagement of public funds increases.