TVDSB taking 'a step in the right direction': ETFO local union representative
The head of the union representing thousands of teachers believes the embattled Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is “moving in the right direction.”
“I think there’s hope”, said Craig Smith, the president of the Thames Valley local of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario.
Smith said that he is encouraged by the leadership of interim TVDSB director Bill Tucker.
Tucker replaced Mark Fisher, who went on a paid leave of absence last month following an outcry over a $38,000 three-day executive retreat to Toronto.
A provincial audit into the finances of the board was announced soon after.
Smith agreed the discovery was the breaking point for many of his members.
Eighteen Senior executives from the Thames Valley District School Board spent two nights at the Toronto Marriott hotel for a retreat in August 2024. (Source: Toronto Marriot City Centre)
“Is it symbolic of a step in the right direction? Absolutely. And if this is the path that we're going down, then I think that is a good thing for the system and a good thing for the students in the system.”
Smith said he respects the decision by senior staff who attended the trip to contribute to a fund out of their expense accounts. The move is aimed to recoup the $38,000 and redirect it into a grade three learn-to-swim program.
“There was a $100,000 cut out of that budget. This restores $40,000 to that organization to do that important work”, Smith said.
At TVDSB headquarters Tuesday, Tucker conceded that he accepted the funds in good faith.
Interim Director of the Thames Valley District School Board, Bill Tucker, October 22, 2024 (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“It's a recognition that, you know, it [The Toronto retreat] wasn't the best decision. And so how do we get that money into kids?”
Tucker said the initiative is just one example designed to restore public confidence.
“Repairing the reputational damage that we've experienced this time around the school board. The great thing is that wonderful things are still going on in the classes.”
However, with the audit in the background and the possibility of more provincial involvement, Smith asserted that improvements must come quickly.
Tucker conceded, “I think hope will only sustain us for a little bit,” as he looked forward to his plan for transparency and accountability.
"People may not be happy with what I communicate, but it's going to be the truth."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Four arrested in Poland over alleged plot to send explosives via courier to Canada, U.S.
Polish authorities have arrested four individuals they allege planned to send parcels containing camouflaged explosives and dangerous materials to Canada and the United States, according to Poland’s government website.
BREAKING Ottawa police deem death of a woman in south end park a femicide
A Montreal man is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the stabbing death of a woman at a park in Ottawa’s south end on Thursday.
Ontario plans to bar international students from medical schools starting in 2026
Ontario will not allow international students in medical schools beginning in the fall of 2026, and will also cover tuition for more than 1,000 students who commit to becoming a family doctor in Ontario, Premier Doug Ford said Friday.
Tiny house with elaborate – and erotic – frescoes unearthed at Pompeii
Archeologists have uncovered a tiny house in Pompeii that is filled with elaborate – and sometimes erotic – frescoes, further revealing the ornate way in which Romans decorated their homes.
Is it a cold or flu? These are the most common symptoms
Understanding the common symptoms of a cold or flu can help you make an informed choice about treatment. Here’s what to know about each illnesses’ symptoms and when it’s time for a doctor visit.
Mother sues AI chatbot company Character.AI, Google over son's suicide
A Florida mother has sued artificial intelligence chatbot startup Character.AI, accusing it of causing her 14-year-old son's suicide in February and saying he became addicted to the company's service and deeply attached to a chatbot it created.
High-ranking Ont. police officer allegedly sped through a school zone, says report, but details are still murky
An Ontario police force has been accused of letting a deputy chief off the hook for speeding tickets. The results of an investigation into the allegations have not been provided, despite repeated requests for details.
Here's why a mortgage broker thinks a 30-year amortization is a 'trap'
The federal government allowed 30-year mortgage amortizations for first-time homebuyers purchasing new builds in August, and the new rules are set to expand in December to everyone looking to buy a newly-constructed home.
'Demanding an autopsy': Mother of 6 dies in deportation centre after Canadian government refuses to repatriate her
A Quebec mother of six, once detained in northeast Syria, has died while waiting for repatriation. The Canadian woman was known only by her initials F.J.