News Release


Administrative Review Completed At Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board

Ministry of Education Accepts Independent Facilitator's Report

January 23, 2009

The Ministry of Education accepts independent facilitator Joan Green's report examining the accommodation review process for an elementary school at the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board.

The report states that the board did follow its locally developed accommodation review process for St. John Catholic Elementary School in Thunder Bay.

The ministry approved the request for an administrative review of the board's process. Green, the founding CEO of the Ontario Education Quality and Accountability Office, consulted with the local accommodation review committee, the school board and people who participated in the process.

Decisions about student accommodations – including school closures – are the responsibility of locally elected school boards. Boards were required to develop accommodation review processes that comply with the government's Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline, which emphasizes consultation, transparency and local accountability. Administrative reviews help communities and boards fulfill those core principles.

Quotes

"I want to thank everyone who co-operated with Ms. Green in this review," said Education Minister Kathleen Wynne. "Public education is a partnership with parents and the community, it is clear the board respects this partnership and takes its responsibility to students seriously."

"School consolidation and the decisions regarding the wise use of public resources to provide the best possible education for all students present many difficult challenges for the board and for affected families and community members," said Green in her report. "Based on my review of the process, documentation and the consultations I conducted, I have concluded that the Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board followed their own policy."

Quick Facts

  • The ministry's Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline mandates minimum timelines for consultation and an evaluation process based on the value of a school to its students and the community.
  • The guideline helps direct boards during pupil accommodation reviews, which are required in most circumstances when a school closure is considered.
  • The ministry has no authority to overturn school closure decisions or delay their implementation.
  • Joan Green has performed other independent reviews of school closure processes, providing valuable feedback to school boards, communities and the ministry.

Learn More

Read Joan Green's Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board full report.

Learn more about the Pupil Accommodation Review Guideline and the review process.