Skip to content

Ombudsman findings a 'victory for the Board and citizens' says Aspin

Aspin also promises a full public meeting before any decision is made regarding future consolidation of schools.
2019 0623 near north district school board logo on wall 1 turl
Near North District School Board logo.

Near North District School Board Chair Jay Aspin says he's ordered a report from the Director of Education about what went wrong during efforts to close Widdifield Secondary School as part of a consolidation process, so it can be rectified.

Aspin also promises a full public meeting before any decision is made regarding future consolidation of schools.

He told BayToday the Board will comply with all 14 recommendations in an Ombudsman's report released today that said the board failed to follow a fair and transparent process.

See: Near North School Board failed to follow a fair and transparent process in closing Widdifield says Ontario Ombudsman

Aspin says he was surprised at the number of in-camera meetings the previous board had held in making the Widdifield decision.

"I think the fact that there were those in-camera meetings in July of 017 kind of surprised me because you don't hold meetings with regard to school closings in-camera, that surprised me."

Aspin says he was also surprised at the emails being sent around that never got to the board.

"The whole board did not have knowledge of pertinent emails."

Aspin added that the Ombudsman's report is a big victory for the Board and local citizens.

"It's pointed out the fallacies about what went on with the former board. We're trying to correct that and this will give us a blueprint to at least rectify these errors. Members of the current board look at this as an opportunity to clean up the misgivings of the previous board that our current board were elected to do.

"Our board will be following the recommendations of the Ombudsman's report in requesting our Director to provide us with a report that identifies the missteps of what actually happened, rectifying the steps and holding a public meeting to make this information public before we revisit and revote on the consolidation in a pubic meeting."

 


Jeff Turl

About the Author: Jeff Turl

Jeff is a veteran of the news biz. He's spent a lengthy career in TV, radio, print and online, covering both news and sports. He enjoys free time riding motorcycles and spoiling grandchildren.
Read more

Reader Feedback