Waterloo region parents oppose removing public school trustees

The Waterloo Region Assembly of Public School Councils has written to the Ontario Ombudsman opposing Bill 33, which gives the education minister power to replace elected public school trustees with provincially appointed supervisors. The Ontario Legislature is scheduled to resume on March 23, when the issue could be revisited.

A Waterloo region parent group has raised concerns about recent provincial changes to school board governance. The Waterloo Region Assembly of Public School Councils (WRAPSC) wrote to the Ontario Ombudsman about Bill 33 and its possible effects on student and parent voices. Bill 33 was passed in November and expands the education minister's powers over school boards. Provincial supervision of some boards has already been used since last March. Key details: - WRAPSC formally asked the Ontario Ombudsman to review Bill 33 and expressed concerns about removing elected trustees. - Bill 33 allows the education minister to appoint supervisors and take governance control in place of elected trustees. - Since March, the province has placed seven school boards under supervision and the minister has said he is open to eliminating trustees in 2026. - Local public school trustees in the Waterloo region have not been removed; the Ontario Legislature is scheduled to resume on March 23. Summary: WRAPSC and other education groups have raised concerns about how replacing elected trustees could affect local representation and classroom matters. The minister's office has said no final decision has been made and has pointed to supervision as a model for quicker action. The Legislature's resumption on March 23 is the next scheduled procedural date; further decisions are undetermined at this time.