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 spiritual statues and a big crucifix for 2 new Catholic faculties.
Rick Petrella, chair for the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District College 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 College in Brantford, Ont. In addition they bought a bust of Pope Francis for the yet-to-be-built Pope Francis Catholic Elementary College in Caledonia, Ont.
The long run website of St. Padre Pio Catholic Secondary College in Brantford, Ont.
Petrella defined, in an electronic mail to , the cash for the statues will probably be coming from the varsity board’s funds surplus. Now, they’re additionally different fundraising avenues to assist offset the price.
The trustees’ journey bills, he added, got here from the trustee honoraria and expense funds.
“My first thoughts were, you know, this seemed like a needless expense,” stated Carlo Fortino, president of the Ontario English Catholic Lecturers Affiliation. “I can understand wanting to get artwork to enhance the Catholicity for a new school but it didn’t require four trustees to travel to Italy to do that.”
The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District College Board on Oct. 17, 2024.
Petrella, who has been on the varsity board for 10 phrases, understands the criticism.
In an announcement to , he stated: “The board of trustees wishes to express regret regarding the events related to the trip to Italy this summer. We recognize that the optics and actions of this trip were not favorable [sic], and although it was undertaken in good faith to promote our Catholic identity and to do something special for our two new schools, we acknowledge that it was not the best course of action.”
It went on to say: “We take responsibility and ownership for this and are committed to addressing and remedying the situation. Each trustee, including myself, who participated in the trip has agreed to repay all the expenses incurred to the board.”
Some really feel the cash ought to have been used elsewhere.
“How much of that money could have been spent in a better way and to support student needs?” requested Fortino. “There’s situations where a kindergarten class is difficult to manage, we could hire another ECE with that money. We have a mental health crisis, in some ways a behavioural crisis right now, post COVID. We could use the support of more EAs (educational assistants).”
Response from the ministry
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 help pupil achievement and higher equip lecturers within the lecture rooms, to not expense journeys on public {dollars} by college board employees. On this occasion, the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District College Board (BHNCDSB) not solely failed college students and oldsters however the neighborhood with a severe lack of fiscal duty and judgement. College boards are anticipated to be accountable stewards of taxpayer {dollars}, whether or not in a deficit or surplus state of affairs. I take this problem severely and I’ve requested my ministry to discover all choices out there to analyze this matter.”
One of many sculptures bought by the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District College Board.
What’s subsequent?
Petrella promised college board trustees will take motion.
“We have heard the concerns of our parents, students, staff and stakeholders, and we recognize the need to further invest in our system,” he stated. “As a result, we have decided to allocate additional funds forthwith to support student needs.”
In accordance with the board chair, that can embrace “enhancing health and safety de-escalation training for teaching and support staff, providing additional resources and staffing for our safe and healthy schools program, and improvements to our school breakfast programs in the district.”
Petrella didn’t share the place these funds would come from.
He added that trustees will probably be reviewing their expense insurance policies at their “earliest opportunity.”
“I appreciate the apology and the idea of them paying it back,” stated Fortino. “To be quite honest, it’s the least they can do.”
However he questions their determination to take the journey within the first place.
“There are bigger priorities right now than a statue in a school.”
