Review of Peel District School Board triggers widespread feedback and responses

BY PAUL JUNOR

The review of the Peel District School Board (PDSB), which was announced by the Minister of Education Stephen Leece, is well on its way. The review is to be completed by February 2020.

The board requested it on October 17^th after there were many complaints made to the ministry. The review was announced on November 7^th, 2019 with the expressed stated purpose according to the minister in his press release, “I intend to appoint reviewers to conduct an immediate review of the PDSB and upon completion, provide a final report to me with recommendations of how the board could ensure effective board governance that promotes equity, increases accountability and transparency and safeguards the success and well-being of students.” The review was initiated after parents, community workers and concerned individuals expressed serious reactions to ongoing issues at the board.

At a November 19^th, 2019 emergency board meeting, triggered by the board trustee, “McCrimminal” comment regarding a Peel school, McCrimmon Public School that has a high representation of black and brown students. This further exacerbated the strained relationship between the board and the community, which was not helped by the investigation and exoneration of the trustee who was found not to be responsible. Many people felt hurt by the conclusions.

On November 27^th, it was announced that the reviewers would be Suzanne Herbert and Ena Chadha. Suzanne had previously completed a review of governance and management practices with the York Region District School Board (YRDSB) in 2017, and had been a civil servant for many years. Ena is an experienced human rights lawyer, investigator, educator and mediator with a wealth of experience in social justice issues. Many members of the black community expressed concerns about that fact that the two reviewers were not reflective of the African–Canadian community and as expressed by Dave O’Oyen, (a diversity and inclusion consultant) on the December 4^th, 2019 Metro Morning, “Nothing about us, without us.”

He was concerned that a non-black reviewer panel would have major blind spots in conversations with the community. Subsequently, on December 21^st, 2019 the ministry announced that a third reviewer, Shawn Richard would be appointed. He taught Trial advocacy at Osgoode Hall School until 2018 and is a past present of the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL). He has experience in addressing anti-black racism and human rights issues at different levels of government. The three reviewers would be working under the leadership of Patrick Case to support the PDSB review process.

In response to community activism within the black community, the We Rise Together initiative, members of Peel Association of African Canadian Educators (PAACE) were present at the emergency board meeting and expressed their concerns to Peter Joshua, the PDSD’s director. Subsequently, an Anti-Black Racism planning committee was formed in which members from PAACE have been participating in discussion with the director’s office to effect systemic changes in the PDSB. In a release on December 14^th, the director expressed his support for those who want to come forward to share information with the reviewers, and he encouraged them to use the board’s intranet, board website and social media channels to present their concerns, views or issues.

As we look forward to the release of the PDSB review final report in the early 2020 there are several questions that arise. There has only been four months to examine these complex and overlapping issues. The scope of the review encompasses equity and human rights, anti-black racism, staffing, board leadership and governance (administration and trustees). Given the challenges and criticisms that the PSDB has faced over the years, one wonders if the final report will come up with concrete recommendations that are reflective of the black community concerns related to the systematic, structural and institutional aspects on anti-black racism.

Only time will tell.