Latest news with #ThamesValleyDistrictSchoolBoard
CTV News
06-08-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
‘Dream come true': London, Ont. umpire selected to work Little League World Series
Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. is the only Canadian headed to Williamsport, PA. to umpire the Little League World Series. CTV's Brent Lale reports. Umpire Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. is headed to Williamsport, PA. to represent Canada at the upcoming Little League World Series (LLWS). 'It is absolutely a dream come true,' said Macdonald. The 35-year-old math teacher with the Thames Valley District School Board was chosen by the international selection committee as the only Canadian to work the tournament. 'It's something I've been working towards since I was 11, 12 years old,' said Macdonald. 'When I got the letter and got the call, it was just, 'Is this actually happening here?'' Macdonald has worked the Junior Little League World Series in Taylor, Mich., but this is another level. The event is televised on TSN in Canada and ESPN in the U.S., and draws millions of viewers annually. Rob Macdonald umpire Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. is the only Canadian headed to Williamsport, PA. to umpire the Little League World Series. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'It's one thing that I've always wanted to do, just be able to represent my country,' said Macdonald. 'I've been able to represent my province, but this is only the second time getting to represent Canada. The first time was a couple of years ago at the Junior Little League World Series, but this is just on a magnified scale to that.' The tournament has 20 teams, 10 from the U.S. and 10 more international teams. 'The Little League is basically like pro ball on a small field,' said Macdonald. 'I've been down there before just to watch. Some of these kids, the way they field the ball, the way they throw the ball, it's like watching the Major Leagues on a 60-ft field.' This is the 25th year Macdonald has been wearing the umpire gear. He got his start in the Hamilton area, keeping the family tradition of officiating. Rob Macdonald umpire Umpire Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. makes a strike call during a game in Dorchester, Ont. Macdonald is headed to Williamsport, PA. to umpire the Little League World Series. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) 'This means is the world to me as my grandfather started volunteering for Stony Creek Optimist Little League in 1958 or 1959,' he said. 'We've had a Macdonald volunteering at Stony Creek ever since. You're not going to get good without good mentors. I've had a lot over my 25 years of umpiring, but, just like Steve Meyer (Umpired LLWS in 2010), Mike Marasco, Hal Barton out of the Hamilton area. Just phenomenal, phenomenal mentors and helping me get to get to where I am.' Fellow umpire Mark Harris has known and worked with Macdonald for a few years. 'I know him to be a dedicated umpire and has a very good passion for the game,' said Harris. 'He loves what he does. He's good on both plate and bases at getting in the right position at the right time and makes the calls correctly.' Rob Macdonald umpire Umpire Rob Macdonald of London, Ont. makes an out call at first base during a game in Dorchester, Ont. Macdonald is headed to Williamsport, PA. to umpire the Little League World Series. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) He will have a large contingent of support at the LLWS to witness family history. His dad, mom, brother and possibly cousins and uncles will be headed to watch him on the big stage. Years of dedication has finally paid off. 'We work our way up through working league games into district provincials, national championships or regionals and then from there, we get evaluated,' said Macdonald. 'If we're deemed good enough, we can put our name in to, to get any of the seven World Series events for Little League.' He got the big one, and he's ready to soak it all in. 'It's finally, finally, finally going to happen,' he said.
CBC
05-08-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Public school board trustees challenge provincial takeover of TVDSB that left them without a job
Social Sharing Some London-area school board trustees say the province is wrong to take away local decision-making powers in education while accusing them of mismanaging millions of public dollars. They're also concerned that Thames Valley District School Board families, who rely on trustees to steer them toward information about school-related activities, will be left without help as the school year draws near. "I am extremely worried for families. I get a lot of calls and emails because navigating the system is really tricky," said Christian Sachs, who represents Middlesex County on the board of trustees. "I am a sounding board, a neutral party. I can look into things for them, advocate for them, look at policies that apply. God forbid your student have any issues." Trustees were locked out of their Thames Valley email accounts last month and those who try to email them are told to contact the director of education. In April, the province essentially took over the board, punting locally-elected officials out of the decision-making process and appointing lawyer Paul Bonifero as a supervisor, to clean up financial mismanagement and a ballooning budget deficit. But Bonifero's budget is projecting a $32 million deficit, nearly double what was previously projected. The education minister has placed the blame squarely on the shoulders of trustees, saying he is "disappointed" with the numbers. We were kicked to the curb and told we were the problem. This is a structural problem. A public funding problem." "This reaffirms just how profoundly trustees failed in their duty to manage public funds and why it was necessary to place the board under supervision. It also underscores the need for the ministry to have a more proactive role in the management of school boards across the province," education minister Paul Calandra said in an email. "The supervisor at TVDSB is now taking the action needed to restore fiscal responsibility, ensure long-term financial stability, and make sure funding goes where it belongs, directly into classrooms to support students and teachers." Neither Calandra nor Bonifero responded to a request for an interview with CBC News. Neither have been available for an interview with CBC News since the takeover in April. System underfunded, trustees say But trustees say the provincial position is a distraction from underfunding in the education system, and that the budget is in the red because the province isn't properly paying for pension and employment insurance contributions, as well as teacher sick days. They say that has to be paid every year, and are out of local trustees' control. "You're blaming us for a problem you created," trustee Lori-Ann Pizzolato, who represents parts of London's south and southeast, said of the ministry. "They're no closer to balancing the budget than we were, and they hold the purse strings. Me, fighting with the ministry, is a distraction from what needs to be done for the students." The pressures on the budget can be fixed with increased funding from the province, she added. Trustees, who are usually reluctant to speak to the media because their policy states that only the chairperson can speak for the board, were uncharacteristically outspoken about the minister's comments. "We welcomed having the supervisor come in because we needed help trying to fix this budget but no one wanted to be our partner, We were kicked to the curb and told we were the problem," Sach said. "This is a structural problem. A public funding problem." Pizzolato and fellow trustee Leroy Osbourne, who represents families in the city's northeast, say they're being scape-goated to distract from lack of provincial funding. "If the minister is serious and genuine about the governance of school boards, it comes down to properly supporting to do their role as opposed to looking for different ways to undermine us," Osbourne said.
Global News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Ford government sends supervisors into more Ontario school boards, sidelining trustees
The Ford government will sideline trustees at four school boards, including both Toronto administrations, as the education minister continues a hands-on approach to governance reform. On Friday, Minister Paul Calandra announced he would send supervisors into Toronto, Toronto Catholic, Ottawa-Carleton and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board. The Thames Valley District School Board in western Ontario has recently also been placed under supervision. 'Each of these boards has failed in its responsibility to parents and students by losing sight of its core mission,' Calandra said in a statement. 'I will take action to restore focus, rebuild trust and put students first.' The move effectively gives the provincial government control over the day-to-day decisions of those boards, taking it away from trustees elected in October 2022. Provincially appointed supervisors will now make calls ranging from the financial to new bylaws or facilities. Story continues below advertisement Recently tabled legislation — which has not yet been passed into law — will make it easier for Calandra to take control of school boards in the future, allowing him to sideline trustees for reasons not related to financial mismanagement and without a recommendation from a third party. Second wave of school board changes The changes announced Friday follow a major April announcement by Calandra, in which he took over the Thames Valley board and set in motion investigations into Toronto, Toronto Catholic and Ottawa-Carleton. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The latter three, he said at the time, all faced massive financial difficulties. He also set a series of deadlines for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to submit a governance plan — and work out how to repay the costs of a $145,000 trip to Italy and an art purchase. Story continues below advertisement In April, Calandra said the Brant Haldimand Norfolk board had spent more than Thames Valley — which put almost $40,000 toward a trip to the Toronto Blue Jays Hotel — but that its finances were ultimately in better shape. It avoided having a supervisor appointed, but was given a 30-day deadline to complete financial and management recommendations, as well as to repay the costs of the trip. 'If that board doesn't do what we are asking them to do, if they don't follow through on the additional recommendations, then I will use the tools that are available to me to take further action,' Calandra said on April 23.
Global News
17-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
Troubled Ontario school board cutting staff to save $4.7M
A massive deficit is leading the Thames Valley District School Board to make massive cuts to staffing in an effort to save $4.7 million. The board said in a statement it's implementing a series of 'staffing adjustments' at the central board offices as part of its ongoing financial recovery efforts. The board would not confirm the number of cuts; a representative for the board said in a statement the cuts would result in $4.7 million in savings on salaries and benefits. This comes amid several other changes to combat a massive deficit. Some of these changes have taken effect immediately, and the board reports that others will be phased in over the coming months, and the 2025-2026 school year. 'The changes reflect the Board's commitment to long-term financial sustainability and ensuring that resources are focused on supporting student learning and well-being,' a representative for the board said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement The cuts come following a weeks-long financial audit of the board following outrage over controversial sending practices. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The report found that the financial position of TVDSB has declined from having a surplus of $3.5 million in 2020 to 2021 to an in-year deficit of $17.32 million in 2023 to 2024. While the projected deficit for the 2024-25 school year is expected to improve slightly to $16.8 million. The board has already implemented savings measures including the staffing cuts for the 2024 2025 school year, which would reduce $16.8 million deficit to an adjusted deficit ranging from $15.9 million to $13.7 million depending on which cuts are made. 'While these decisions are difficult, they have been made with a clear focus on securing the Board's financial stability and ensuring that resources remain available where they are needed most. The Board is committed to providing support for staff who are impacted by these changes,' a representative for the board said in a statement. All this comes following highly criticized spending practices and the board's director of education stepping down in March. In March the board announced that that the board of trustees accepted Mark Fisher's resignation. Fisher has been on a leave of absence since early September 2024, which took effect just days before the school board revealed the cost of an off-site planning meeting in Toronto, totaling $38,444.92. Story continues below advertisement This includes transportation, the Blue Jays' stadium hotel, meeting spaces and food expenses. Following the controversy over the trip, Ontario's Ministry of Education announced an audit of the board, which resulted in them finding the $16.8 million deficit.
CTV News
16-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Thames Valley School Board cuts dozens of jobs at board office
The Director of Education for the Thames Valley District School Board has confirmed dozens of layoffs at the board. This time, no teaching jobs are affected, rather, the cuts are among administrative ranks. Bill Tucker tells CTV News that 42 full time jobs at the central board office, including some in senior administration, have been cut. While some job cuts have already taken effect, others will roll out over the next few months and into the next school year. In a written statement to CTV News, the board says it's 'implementing a series of staffing adjustments at the central board offices as part of its ongoing financial recovery efforts.' The board says the 'adjustments' will result in about $4.7 million in salaries and benefits. 'They reflect careful planning to align our operations with financial realities while continuing to prioritize classrooms and students,' said the statement. A school board audit, completed in April, revealed a deficit of $17.3 million in 2023-24. The board is being overseen by a provincially appointed supervisor, following the spring audit. Paul Bonifferro oversees all financial and operational decisions. According to the Ministry of Education, Boniferro represents the ministry's vested control, overseeing and managing the administration of the board.
