The public silence from London Trustees During a Thames Valley District School Board Scandal That Re-Ignied With the Exits of its Top Officials Amid Leaves of Absence by Other Administrators is unacceptable, a political observer Says.
The public silence from London Trustees During a Thames Valley District School Board Scandal That Re-Ignied With the Exits of its Top Officials Amid Leaves of Absence by Other Administrators is unacceptable, a political observer Says.
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The Upheaval that began in September when the London Free Press First Reported Details of A Pricey Retreat to the Upscale Train Skydome Hotel by 18 Administrators from the Cash-Strapped Board Continues with the Recent Developments-But Days of Jays for Comment for Comment Comment from Electéd Truffed or Rebuffed.
“The School Board is a public entity that is responsible Ultimately to the public,” Said Martin Horak, A Political Scientist with Western University’s Local Government Program. “The Governing Board is Elected and There Should Be Some Transparency There in Terms of the Public Knowning As Much as Possible What is Going ON.”
Among The Latest Changes:
- Longtime Education Director Mark Fisher, The Board’s $ 326,000-Year Top Official, ReSIGNED LAST WEEK Following a leave that began days after the september Start of the School Year
- Linda Nicholls, The Associate Director, Left The Organization Last Week Following Her Own Leave. She’d Been Making Nearly $ 260,000 annually
- Andrew CanhamSuperintend of Student Achievement and Train Associate Director, Went On Leave Earlier This Month. He Makes An Annual Salary of Roughly $ 202,000
- Ali Chahbar, Executive Officer and General Legal Counsel, also Went on Leave Last Week. He made $ 199.472 in 2023.
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Trustee Beth Mai, flesh of the School Board, is Also we get As of March 7. She’s the Only Thames Valley Official to have publicly Addressed her situation, noting it was health-related.
The Trustees who Take up London on the Board Have refused to comment or not folded when asked in recent days by the free press. Lori-Ann Pizzolato, Leroy Osbourne and Marianne Larsen Did not respond to requests for comment. Sherri Moore and Sheri Polhill Directé disturries to the Board’s vice-chair, Oxford County Trustee David Cripps, and Interim Education Director Bill Tucker.
Though Cripps Initially Agreed to A Weekend Interview With the Free Press, He Later Cancelled and Instratead Direct A Reporter To A Prior Stament Issued by the Board and Signed by Him That Stated the Board Had Accepted Fisher’s ReSignation and That Nicholls Had Left.
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The Stament Added that the Board “will not be making any further comments as these decisions relates to personal matters.”
In September, the free press uncovered details of a Three-day August Retreat by 18 Board Administrators at the Form Skydome Hotel. Fisher and Nicholls Went On Their respective leaves a short time later.
The trip, which Cost $ 38,000was held after the board slashed its 2024-25 budget shortfall to $ 7.6 million from $ 18 million through Job Cucs, included 82 Teaching positions. They also cut the Student Field-Trip Budget by Half to $ 500,000.
Thames Valley’s Annual Budget is approximataly $ 1.2 Billion. It remains in a deep deficit.
Trustees we not not part of the retreat. In Its Fallout Ontario’s Education Minister Launched a Sweeping Audit. When asked by the free press for an update on its status, minister Officials Issued a stattement indicating that it was oboing.
“(The) Thames Valley District School Board is Currently Undergoing A Management Audit,” It Read. “A Ministry-APPOIVE Investigator is Reviewing the Board’s Financial Operations, Executive Compensation Practices and will Provide A Report with Recommendations on Future actions to the Minister of Education.”
With file from free press reporter jennifer bieman
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