Newly elected trustees for Ottawa’s largest public school board will be sworn in on Monday, but as the new term begins and the board remains under provincial supervision, elected officials will have limited powers and responsibilities. Two newly elected trustees for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) speaking with CTV News Ottawa say their passion for being a voice for parents and their community are the reasons they put their names forward, and while they have concerns about their current limits for their role, they say they will continue to do what they can. On the campaign trail, Zone 9 trustee elect Hilary Clauson says parents raised concerns over crowded classrooms and a lack of resources for teachers, but also about the supervision. “I heard a lot of gratitude for people running,” she said. On Monday, Clauson and the 11 other elected trustees for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board will be sworn in, but it’s a role that remains limited after the education minister suspended the trustees and placed the board under supervision last year. “I think we have a lot of responsibility to our electorate to draw attention to education issues,” Clauson said. “To really understand what’s going on and to really prepare ourselves for when we do get a seat at the table, because I don’t believe that supervision will be forever.” A letter sent to trustees titled, “Trustee roles, responsibilities and access to school board resources protocol for school boards under supervision” and provided by Clauson, outlines their role and responsibilities. Among the restrictions, the document says that while under supervision, trustees “are not representatives of the board” and “may not engage with principals, school staff or school councils in their capacity as trustee.” Clauson says she didn’t know the extent of the restrictions and plans to push back. “I’m going to take every opportunity that I can both to be visible in the community and playing that role. And also, working very constructively with the board toward the end of supervision and the full restoration of the trustee role.” Education Minister Paul Calandra has not provided a timeline for reinstating trustees. Emily Quaile, the trustee elect for Zone 4, says she’s concerned the letter is muzzling trustees. She says she is running because she believes concerned parents and school communities deserve a strong voice. “I am here to remind the supervisor or the education minister that we are here, we demand a lot better, and we can organize to get it,” Quaile said. “Something I’m really committed to is shining a light on how opaque the board has been in this process and remind them that we are all very concerned. That I heard a near-unanimous view at the doors in my campaign. That this government is failing our schools” The school board did not provide comment when CTV News Ottawa reached out earlier this week. Clauson says after the swearing in, she will be reaching out to the board to understand what she really can do in her capacity.
