Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith has asked the Minister of Education to launch a governance review of the Near North District School Board, and says he is pressing for immediate interventions to resolve this local schooling crisis
Smith released a statement on Aug. 27 following a meeting with a group of concerned parents. In it, he reiterated his concern, frustration, and ongoing dissatisfaction with the quote “dysfunction at the Near North Board.”
“As I have stated previously, both publicly and privately, the delays in completing the new K–12 school in Parry Sound—and the board’s persistent inability to communicate effectively with parents, students, and teachers—are unacceptable,” said Smith.
He is calling for immediate and transparent action by the board and is asking for:
- a clear timeline for how long students will be required to learn online.
- a detailed construction schedule with clear milestones.
- a full account of the decisions and mismanagement that led to this situation.
“The uncertainty and mismanagement of this project have gone on far too long and should never have occurred,” stated Smith.
Representatives from the group, Parents for Parent Sound, which met with Smith on Aug. 27 released their own statement in response to his. In it, they commended Smith for “releasing such a strong statement calling out the dysfunction at the Near North District School Board.”
“His words echo the frustration families in Parry Sound have been living with for months, and we appreciate his push for a governance review and accountability,” reads the statement.
However, the group of parents is still looking for answers regarding when will kids be in classrooms, when will construction be finished, and who is responsible for the failures?
“Our kids deserve better, and we won’t stop pushing until they get it,” concluded the statement.
