On Air Now

Heart FM Mornings

5:30am - 10:00am

  • 519-537-1047

Now Playing

TAYLOR SWIFT

I CAN DO IT WITH A BROKEN HEART

Download
Listen Live Listen Live HD2

Catholic School Board Under Review

Thursday, 19 December 2024 14:32

By Marcie Culbert X @marcieculbert

The province has announced a review of the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board after several of its trustees travelled to Italy to buy artwork this summer.

ONTARIO - The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB) is about to go under a microscope.

The Ford Government has appointed Aaron Shull to review the school board's expenses, in addition to its conflict of interest and accountability policies.

This comes after four of its trustees travelled to Italy in July, in order to buy religious art for two of its new schools. The trip cost about $45,000 and the trustees spent about $100,000 on artwork.

Minister of Education Jill Dunlop says this is unacceptable.

"Trustees are expected to be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars and to spend education funding to support student achievement and better equip teachers in the classrooms, not on lavish trips and costly artwork. The BHNCDSB’s misuse of public dollars is appalling, and they have failed students, parents and their community with a serious lack of fiscal responsibility and judgment."

Shull is going to take a close look at trustee expenses, board executive's pay and other relevant issues that may come up during the review. He will provide the ministry with regular updates as he prepares a final report by March 2025.

In addition to this, the ministry has announced that it will be reviewing discretionary expenses across all school boards in the province, adding they will be included in their bi-annual disclosure of school board financials to ensure transparency and accountability.

The Thames Valley District School Board also made headlines this summer, after it spent roughly $40,000 on a staff retreat in Toronto, which included a stay at the hotel overlooking the Blue Jays stadium inside Rogers Centre.

Share

More from Local News

Comments

Add a comment

Log in to the club or enter your details below.
Rating *

Weather

Recently Played

© Copyright 2024 104.7 Heart FM (CIHR-FM) is owned and operated by Byrnes Communications Inc.. Powered by Aiir.