Trustees with an Ontario college board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 journey to Italy, the place they bought greater than $100,000 value of non secular statues and a big crucifix for 2 new Catholic faculties.
Rick Petrella, chair for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District Faculty Board, stated trustees acquired a statue of St. Padre Pio, a statue of the Virgin Mary, sculptures depicting the 14 Stations of the Cross and commissioned a big crucifix for St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary Faculty in Brantford, Ont. Additionally they bought a bust of Pope Francis for the yet-to-be-built Pope Francis Catholic Elementary Faculty in Caledonia, Ont.
The long run web site of St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary Faculty in Brantford, Ont.
Petrella defined, in an e mail to CTV Information, the cash for the statues shall be coming from the varsity board’s price range surplus. Now, they’re additionally different fundraising avenues to assist offset the fee.
The trustees’ journey bills, he added, got here from the trustee honoraria and expense price range.
“My first ideas have been, you already know, this appeared like a pointless expense,” stated Carlo Fortino, president of the Ontario English Catholic Lecturers Affiliation. “I can perceive eager to get paintings to boost the Catholicity for a brand new college however it didn’t require 4 trustees to journey to Italy to try this.”
The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District Faculty Board on Oct. 17, 2024.
Petrella, who has been on the varsity board for 10 phrases, understands the criticism.
In an announcement to CTV Information, he stated: “The board of trustees needs to specific remorse concerning the occasions associated to the journey to Italy this summer time. We acknowledge that the optics and actions of this journey weren’t favorable [sic], and though it was undertaken in good religion to advertise our Catholic identification and to do one thing particular for our two new faculties, we acknowledge that it was not the perfect plan of action.”
It went on to say: “We take accountability and possession for this and are dedicated to addressing and remedying the state of affairs. Every trustee, together with myself, who participated within the journey has agreed to repay all of the bills incurred to the board.”
Some really feel the cash ought to have been used elsewhere.
“How a lot of that cash might have been spent in a greater manner and to assist pupil wants?” requested Fortino. “There’s conditions the place a kindergarten class is tough to handle, we might rent one other ECE with that cash. We’ve a psychological well being disaster, in some methods a behavioural disaster proper now, publish COVID. We might use the assist of extra EAs (instructional assistants).”
Response from the ministry
CTV Information additionally reached out to get response from Jill Dunlop, the minister of schooling
Her workplace shared the next assertion: “Our authorities elevated public schooling funding to historic ranges to assist pupil achievement and higher equip academics within the school rooms, to not expense journeys on public {dollars} by college board employees. On this occasion, the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District Faculty Board (BHNCDSB) not solely failed college students and fogeys however the group with a critical lack of fiscal accountability and judgement. Faculty boards are anticipated to be accountable stewards of taxpayer {dollars}, whether or not in a deficit or surplus state of affairs. I take this difficulty critically and I’ve requested my ministry to discover all choices obtainable to research this matter.”
One of many sculptures bought by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District Faculty Board.
What’s subsequent?
Petrella promised college board trustees will take motion.
“We’ve heard the issues of our dad and mom, college students, employees and stakeholders, and we acknowledge the necessity to additional spend money on our system,” he stated. “Because of this, now we have determined to allocate further funds forthwith to assist pupil wants.”
In line with the board chair, that can embrace “enhancing well being and security de-escalation coaching for instructing and assist employees, offering further assets and staffing for our secure and wholesome faculties program, and enhancements to our faculty breakfast applications within the district.”
Petrella didn’t share the place these funds would come from.
He added that trustees shall be reviewing their expense insurance policies at their “earliest alternative.”
“I admire the apology and the thought of them paying it again,” stated Fortino. “To be fairly trustworthy, it’s the least they’ll do.”
However he questions their determination to take the journey within the first place.
“There are larger priorities proper now than a statue in a college.”