Ontario鈥檚 "Putting Student Achievement First Act, 2026" reduces school board trustees to advisory roles, shifting budgetary and operational power to a provincially overseen CEO. Critics argue the move undermines local democracy by prioritizing business metrics over student achievement.
SUDBURY鈥擶hile school board trustees will remain in place, their roles are going to be significantly reduced, says the chair of the Rainbow District School Board (RDSB).
鈥淭he good news is that trustees will remain in place, but the reality is that the role of trustees will be diminished significantly,鈥 stated David Farrow, chair of RDSB. 鈥淭rustees have been involved in areas like governance and passing budgets; trustees will now have more of an advisory role. There will not be much meat to what we are going to be doing as trustees. And the most significant change is moving toward a chief executive officer to run each board.鈥
Mr. Farrow said, 鈥渢he directors of education are the experts and drive programs for achievement for programs and students. Let鈥檚 face it the government doesn鈥檛 see education as a social determinant and are approaching this in a more business financial approach. Decisions are being made (by the province) that are not in the best interest of students but about financial issues. It leaves a lot of questions for directors of education.鈥
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