The Brock Citizen has reported that elected
township officials have now been drawn into the brouhaha regarding the distribution
of trustees on the Durham District Catholic School Board. Although largely
unnoticed, a similar discussion recently took place at the Durham District
School Board. In fact, these discussions have been triggered across the
province by a Ministry of Education regulation that requires school districts
to calculate trustee entitlement and distribution using an established
provincial formula to analyze February data provided by MPAC. In the case of
the DDSB, the public board, this calculation confirmed the current allocation
of eleven trustees. However, the
calculation indicated that Whitby’s allocation should be increased from two to
three trustees and that representation in the three northern municipalities
should be reduced from two to one. When the matter was considered by the board,
it was quickly decided that the current distribution should be maintained. By
exercising a provision in the Education Act, Scugog was declared a "low
population area" with its trustee being maintained while Brock and
Uxbridge remained combined and allocated one trustee. This decision was
unanimously supported by the trustees.
Concern was expressed however, about the
timing of this review. The Ministry of Education requires school districts to
report the decision on trustee distribution by April of any municipal election
year. This is awkward. Not only have nominations for the upcoming election been
open for several months but more importantly there is limited time for public
consultation should the MPAC numbers received in February indicate a need to
consider possible redistribution of representation. In this regard, the DDSB
has written to the Minister of Education urging that this determination be
considered in the year prior to a municipal election.
Some have characterized this as a battle
between south and north. This is unfortunate. Understanding and appreciating another's
point of view is critical. It is not difficult to understand that the resident
of a mushrooming underserviced urban development might seek greater voice? The
concern of individuals living in rural areas with declining population is
equally understandable. In my experience, most folks rise above the numbers and
try to do the right thing. Indeed, Canada has been built on a culture of understanding
and compromise.
