Blackburn Sworn In As OCDSB Trustee For Fourth Term

The ongoing saga of the LRT and the inquiry into how the former police chief handled the truck protest may not be the only drama offered in the theatre of local politics this year.

In their first meeting of the new term, the ceremony of new and returning members being sworn in was overshadowed by discussion of a mask mandate and elections which saw a new Chair elected.

Barrhaven-Knoxdale-Merivale was happy to be sworn in for her fourth term serving Barrhaven.

“I was so very honoured to be sworn in for a fourth time as OCDSB Trustee for Barrhaven,” Blackburn said. “There are many challenges before us.”

One of the challenges is that Camille Williams-Taylor has resigned as the board’s Director of Education. She has accepted a position as Director of Education with the Durham District School Board.

“The Director of Education has resigned and will be leaving us at the beginning of January,” Blackburn said.  “We need to appoint an interim Director and go about hiring a new one. The Director of Education is a pivotal role in any school District and I am hoping the Board chooses the most qualified person that is deeply committed to the OCDSB.”

Zone 6, Rideau-Vanier/Rideau-Rockcliffe Trustee Lyra Evans was elected as Chair of the Board of Trustees, replacing longtime Board Chair Lynn Scott.

“The year ahead promises to be an exciting time for our Board and our community as we work together to shape the future of our District. In the coming months, we will work to recruit a new Director of Education and to develop the OCDSB Strategic Plan for 2023-2027. These efforts will be guided and inspired by our commitment to student learning and well-being, equity, and human rights.”

Trustee Justine Bell was elected Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees. She is the trustee for Zone 10, Somerset.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this new Board and appreciate the trust my colleagues have placed in me. I am committed to creating a positive and productive environment where we come together to move forward our agenda – with students always at the centre of our decisions, creating a culture of caring, innovation and social responsibility.” said Bell.

Evans and Bell are both failed NDP candidates in previous elections. Their election has caused concern among some whether they and other provincial candidates on the board will be committed to their term, or whether they will shift focus to the provincial election. Their critics also wonder if the decisions and agendas they are pushing represent the best interest of the board, or if they are made to pad their political resumes.

Both Evans and Bell have knocked heads with Blackburn. Evans lobbied successfully to have the police resource officer program cancelled. While the SRO program was installed to have a police officer work with students in the school community and build relationships, Evans argued that some Black, racialized and Indigenous students were afraid of the police, and that the program encouraged systemic racism. Bell supported Evans in her efforts.

Blackburn, meanwhile, has been a strong advocate to bring police presence back to schools to build relationships between students and the Ottawa Police. Removal of the program has resulted in a lost link between schools, principals and the police. The issue became a local hot button last year when a student was stabbed at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School, leaving the school with the only option of calling 9-1-1. The event happened at a time when many residents in Barrhaven were calling for more police presence due to the rapid rise in crime in the community.

In 2020, Blackburn filed a complaint against Evans and Bell over posts they made on Twitter. Bell had earlier called for Blackburn’s resignation over what she called an act of anti-Black racism.

Despite having knocked heads with the new chair and vice-chair, Blackburn said her top priority is representing her zone and her committee responsibilities and strengthening the school board.

“I was elected the Chair of the Budget Committee and look forward to exercising that duty in a respectful manner,” she said. “Staff morale has never been lower and I will advocate that we address this Immediately.”

Photo: Donna Blackburn was joined by her daughter and cousin for her swearing in ceremony as Ottawa Carleton District School Board Trustee.