Stratford City Council has voted unanimously to send a formal letter to Premier Doug Ford, requesting more openness and public discussion regarding potential changes to how public school boards are run in Ontario.
The decision was made during the council meeting on March 23, 2026, following a presentation by the Avon Maitland District School Board Chair Michael Bannerman and local trustee Deepika Mishra. The board members asked for support as the provincial government considers eliminating the role of elected school board trustees across the province.
Trustees argue that locally elected representatives are essential for understanding the unique needs of rural communities, such as student transportation, long travel distances, and access to local school programming. During the meeting, Councillor Jo-Dee Burbach noted that keeping elected trustees is a cost-effective way to maintain local oversight. She pointed out that the nine trustees in the district earn a combined total of less than $200,000 annually, while government-appointed supervisors, who have been used in other regions, can earn $350,000 each.
Trustee Mishra also emphasized that trustees serve as important, approachable points of contact for immigrant and newcomer families who may find the local education system complex to navigate. This concern for local representation is shared by other area leaders, as the Municipality of North Perth has also passed a resolution supporting the call for further consultation.
While provincial Education Minister Paul Calandra has suggested that the current trustee system may be outdated and is considering reforms, the 2026 provincial budget released on March 26, 2026, did not include specific changes to school board governance. As the municipal elections approach on October 26, 2026, the future of the trustee role remains a topic of local interest.
