Ontarians skeptical of eliminating school board trustees: poll

A new poll found only 33 per cent of respondents support the province eliminating elected school board trustees, and 36 per cent oppose it.

A new public opinion poll finds Ontarians aren’t clamouring to eliminate school board trustees and are skeptical such a change would improve the education system.

Abacus Data surveyed 2,000 Ontario residents on behalf of CUPE Ontario earlier this month.

They find that only one in three respondents, 33 per cent, support doing away with elected trustees, while 36 per cent oppose the measure. Another 25 per cent are unsure.

Minister of Education Paul Calandra is the midst of a review of governance of school boards with a decision expected by the end of the year. Calandra has said he is focused on addressing trustees, not collapsing school boards altogether.

In the survey, 57 per cent of respondents agree with the statement that “the main problem for Ontario schools is underfunding, not school board trustees,” and that trustees provide local accountability.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Calandra said the education minister has been “clear.”

“... the current school board governance structure is based on an outdated system that needs to be modernized,” Emma Testani said in an email to CTV News Toronto.

“Our focus is to provide students with better outcomes, and teachers and educators with the tools they need to help students succeed.”

In an interview with CTV News Toronto, CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn says the poll shows Ontarians “don’t buy” that trustees are responsible for deficiencies in education.

“They know very well that the cause of the challenges that young people are experiencing in our education system, in our schools throughout the province are a direct result of underfunding.”

Abacus notes most respondents view the restructuring proposals as a distraction or a power grab without a positive outcome for classrooms.

“We’re quite concerned that this is an extension of the way in which the Ford (Progressive) Conservatives have interfered and tried to diminish democratic processes,” Hahn says.

The survey finds division among PC voters when presented with a proposal to replace the Minister of Education or eliminate trustees. The question draws a link between Calandra, U.S. President Donald Trump, and the centralization of power and acknowledging that the PCs didn’t campaign on an education system overhaul.

Forty-nine per cent of PC voters say they are more likely to want to see Calandra ousted than trustees, while 51 per cent believe the minister’s proposals are following through on a communicated plan.

PC voters are split down the middle on whether to increase per-student spending or keep funding as it is and eliminate trustees or school boards.

CTV News has reached out to Calandra’s office for comment.

Abacus Data conducted the poll Sept. 11-13. It has a margin of error of +/- 2.19%, 19 times out of 20.