Ontario’s Minister of Education Stephen Lecce has ordered an immediate review of the Near North District School Board following concerning reports about governance dysfunction that threatens student achievement and well-being.
The intervention comes after months of mounting complaints from parents, educators, and community stakeholders about deep divisions among trustees and allegations of procedural irregularities that have derailed board operations.
“When governance issues interfere with student success, we have an obligation to act,” Lecce said during Wednesday’s announcement at Queen’s Park. “Our priority must always be ensuring students have access to quality education in functional learning environments.”
The Minister’s directive appoints Margaret Wilson, a respected education governance expert who previously led reviews at the Toronto and York Region boards, to conduct a thorough investigation. Wilson has 60 days to assess board operations and make recommendations for improvement.
This isn’t the first time provincial authorities have stepped in to address issues at Near North. In 2019, the board faced similar scrutiny following trustee infighting and questionable decision-making around school closures. That review resulted in several governance recommendations which, according to ministry officials, haven’t been fully implemented.
Jay Aspin, chair of the Near North board, expressed mixed feelings about the intervention. “While we welcome any support to improve our operations, I believe many of the concerns have been overstated,” he said in a statement to local media. “We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Ministry and Ms. Wilson.”
However, other trustees have privately acknowledged the severity of the situation. One trustee, speaking on condition of anonymity, told me the board has become “virtually paralyzed” by competing factions and personality conflicts that overshadow educational priorities.
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) has offered its support for the review. “Effective governance is essential for student achievement,” said OPSBA President Cathy Abraham. “When boards struggle with these fundamental responsibilities, sometimes external assistance is necessary.”
Parents across the district have expressed frustration with how governance issues have affected educational planning. Sarah Thornton, who has two children in the system and serves as a school council chair, described a “complete breakdown in communication” between the board and school communities.
“For months, we’ve watched essential decisions get delayed or derailed by procedural disputes and personal grievances,” Thornton said. “Meanwhile, our kids’ educational needs aren’t being addressed.”
The ministry’s intervention powers come from Section 230 of the Education Act, which allows for special measures when a board is deemed to be failing in its duties. These powers have been used sparingly across Ontario, with only four similar interventions in the past decade.
Education policy expert Dr. Nina Bascia from OISE/University of Toronto notes this represents a delicate balance in Ontario’s education system. “The province grants significant autonomy to elected school boards, but maintains oversight responsibility,” she explained. “Intervention is always a last resort when local governance mechanisms have broken down.”
According to Ministry data, the Near North District School Board serves approximately 10,000 students across 27 elementary and secondary schools in North Bay, Parry Sound, and surrounding communities. The board has faced declining enrollment challenges and difficult decisions about resource allocation that have intensified governance tensions.
Former Near North superintendent Carol Stevens, who retired in 2021, believes these pressures contributed to the current situation. “The combination of tight budgets, demographic shifts, and differing visions for education created perfect conditions for conflict,” she said. “Unfortunately, personality differences amplified these tensions rather than allowing for productive problem-solving.”
The Ministry review will examine board meeting procedures, decision-making processes, and adherence to governance policies. It will also assess whether trustees are fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities and maintaining appropriate boundaries between governance and operations.
Lecce emphasized that the intervention isn’t about overriding local democracy, but ensuring functional governance. “Elected trustees play a vital role in our education system, but their primary responsibility must always be student achievement and well-being,” he said.
For students and staff, the review brings both uncertainty and hope. North Bay Secondary School teacher Martin Reid expressed cautious optimism: “We’ve been struggling with unclear direction and delayed resources for too long. If this intervention helps restore focus on students, it will be worthwhile.”
As Wilson begins her work next week, communities across the Near North district will be watching closely. The review’s outcomes could have implications not just for this board, but for how the province approaches struggling school boards across Ontario.
While Lecce stopped short of appointing a supervisor to take over board operations—the most drastic intervention available—he made it clear that further measures remain possible depending on Wilson’s findings.
“Our students deserve nothing less than excellence in both education and governance,” Lecce concluded. “This review is about ensuring they receive exactly that.”
