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School Board’s Best, Worst

Rating: NNNNN


school’s out. so how did yourtrustees do? It’s true that they’re only paid $5,000 a year to sit on the Toronto District School Board, thanks to our anti-education provincial government. But that’s exactly why we need trustees to stand up to those buffoons at Queen’s Park. Hence, political backbone ranks right up there with attendance on this year’s mid-term school trustee report card. We have some good news and some bad news. Progressives were elated last November when four new left-of-centre trustees joined three good vets. But not everything has unfolded as expected.

Yes, the new trustees have taken positions closer to those of parents and education workers. But they failed to extract a decent deal for caretakers, secretaries and education assistants in the CUPE strike: 5.5 per cent is pretty cheesy, especially when principals have been getting up to 11 per cent.

Seems most on the board were more prepared to impose draconian Tory spending limits than to do what’s right — spend what the kids need and damn the consequences. After all, it might have been highly strategic to run out of money in the last year of the Tories’ mandate. But no, trustees are more concerned with being “responsible.” That’s the same bug that Bob Rae got while in office. And look what happened to him.

The whole board tends to be blamed for decisions and attitudes that may be the work of only a slight majority. Trustees need individual accountability. It’s with this in mind that a six-month interim report card is offered to give them a chance to improve. Without further ado, in order from great to beyond hope:

Liz Hill (York South-Weston) — Continues to demonstrate that you can do the right thing and be re-elected time after time. Hill, who has the best voting record on the board, was one of only three trustees to say no recently to an 8 to 11 per cent raise brought in for principals while school programs were being cut. Kids over principals. A+

Sheila Cary-Meagher (Beaches-East York) — A solid supporter of community over bureaucratic priorities. Cary-Meagher made far more constructive budget suggestions than the experts and supported a decent contract for CUPE. Keep it up next year. And don’t lose the outsider attitude. A+

Stephnie Payne (York West) — Known as Stephnie Payne-in-the-ass to some staffers. She proposed the condemnation of Mel Lastman’s racist remarks. She’s pro-kid, pro-worker and pro-minority, but a slight attendance problem is noted — she tends to arrive late and leave early. Hope it doesn’t get any worse. A

Paula Fletcher (Danforth) — Excellent voting record, self-assured for a rookie. But we fear she may be starting to drift. She supported principals’ raise and opposed union staffing rules at Danforth Tech. You know better, Paula. A-

Shelley Carroll (Don Valley East) — Very progressive for a partisan Liberal. She has an excellent working relationship with parents and employees. We hope one boo-boo (supporting too much dough for principals) doesn’t signal backsliding. A-

Kathleen Wynne (Eglinton-Lawrence) — Outstanding work behind the scenes to get CUPE a decent contract. But she was also the board’s official spokesperson during the critical strike period. That meant her effectiveness was squeezed. Some worry she’s losing her opposition mentality and becoming a systems person. Also, she needs to absolutely clarify her position on religious schools. Hint: there’s nothing to discuss, they are bad by definition. A-

Irene Atkinson (Parkdale-High Park) — Her knowledge of the system can’t be topped and often turns debate. She’s getting cranky in the chair, but with some of the yobs on this board, that may be necessary. A-

Nellie Pedro (Davenport) — Best surprise on the new board. She almost saved Ursula Franklin Academy by herself. Well-researched and principled for a rookie (and a Liberal), she puts community needs ahead of staff recommendations. Keep it up! A-

Dane Liu ( student trustee) — Elected by her peers, she can speak, but her vote doesn’t count. Liu puts almost every other trustee to shame with insightful comments that show broad social understanding and empathy for one so young. If we could just have 22 more of these. A+

Sheila Ward (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) — The most improved trustee on the board. Of course, the reason my be boundary changes that dumped Forest Hill and added Cabbagetown, Regent Park and the gay ghetto. She’s a pal of Wynne’s, and that may be rubbing off. And, because she has a business background, she’s been very useful on financial matters. One friendly suggestion: make your point and move on. Meetings are too long as it is. B

Bruce Davis (Etobicoke Lakeshore) — Smart and personable but has a mixed record. Some would say he’s a populist, but other trustees say it all makes sense when you realize he’s trying to become the next Liberal MPP for Lakeshore by knocking off Tory Morley Kells. C

Shelley Laskin (St. Paul’s) — Far too concerned with what the bureaucrats, rather than parents or employees, will think. D

Sheine Mankovsky (York Centre) — Makes windy speeches, drifting off the topic to talk down to everyone in sight. Big disappointment to CUPE workers in contract talks. F

Donna Cansfield (Etobicoke Centre) — She has a brain, which cannot be said for everyone on the board. She badly wants to be chair, but a gang-up against her by Liberals and NDPers doesn’t bode well. She’s the dragon lady to CUPE workers for comparing them to teenagers during strike. F

Pauline Ling (Scarborough-Rouge River) — Sad that one of the few minority members on the board (strongly supported by parents and the Labour Council during the election) folded up within weeks of the vote. Apparently, she doesn’t like political confrontation, but that’s all there is at the school board. Some call it democracy. F

Christine Ferreira (Trinity-Spadina) — A huge disappointment. She cost CUPE an improved wage offer by voting in private against it — the fatal vote that sank the deal. Constituents are starting to yell that she never returns phone calls. It’s time for NDP figures like MPP Rosario Marchese to stop sticking up for her. Sure, she offers a Portuguese name on the NDP ticket, but that’s not a good enough reason to excuse her sins. F

Elizabeth Moyer (Scarborough Southwest) — Almost always votes right-wing. A corporate type who usually answers her e-mail on a laptop during board meetings, she’s also developed an attendance problem, missing the last two meetings. Three without a good story and you’re out. F

Scott Harrison (Scarborough Centre) — This scion of the Scarborough political family wanted the board to blow big bucks buying white elephant Metro Hall. He believes firefighters (he’s one) should get a big raise, but not CUPE caretakers. Votes right-wing 100 per cent of the time. F

Sam Basra (Etobicoke North) — Has developed an attendance problem since being charged with falsely promising new board jobs to immigrants from India through his immigration consulting firm. He says he will be exonerated. Sometimes fools people and votes with progressives. F

Ron McNaughton (Scarborough-Agincourt) — Contributres nothing, votes right-wing every time. FJudi Codd (Willowdale) — Votes with the right wing on every issue. She’s the second most right-wing trustee, behind pal Gerri Gershon (below). F

Gerri Gershon (Don Valley West) — Farthest right on the board. She’s the only trustee to duck the vote condemning Mel Lastman’s racist comments. She pushes contracting out for CUPE jobs, delayed a solution to the CUPE strike with her hardline stance and loves scarfing down cheeseburgers on the board’s dime. One fewer education assistant is a lot of burgers. F

Pat Rutledge (Scarborough East) — Convicted of assault against former gal pal. Now he’s in hot water over mileage claims. Likes to raise a glass at Jack Astor’s in Scarborough on the board’s dime. Perfect, because he’s the biggest Jack Astor on the board. F

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