McKinnon asking for transparency at TVDSB

By Lee Griffi

Bill McKinnon is no stranger to the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), having served as a trustee for 11 years, including a stint as board chair from 2015 to 2021. He will be joined by Benjamin Lampkin.

Dave Cripps, who is vying for a spot on Ingersoll Town Council, and Leanne Hopkins did not run for re-election.

McKinnon, an Ingersoll resident, was first elected as a TVDSB trustee in 2010 and was acclaimed in 2014 alongside Graham Hart. He was elected vice-chair of the board in December, 2014 and became chair in 2015, a position he held until 2021. McKinnon was re-elected as an Oxford trustee in 2018 but stepped down as board chair in the spring of 2021 and resigned his trustee position a few months later.

“I wanted to make sure Oxford County was represented by somebody who knows the ins and outs of public education and who served on the board before,” explained McKinnon when asked why he signed up for the role. “I wanted to make sure there was some experience and the right questions were asked.”

The TVDSB remains under provincial control, with some meetings being held behind closed doors and others open to the public but not livestreamed, meaning residents must attend in person to observe the proceedings.

McKinnon said one of his biggest concerns is the lack of a budget and financial clarity on the board’s financial situation. When TVDSB presented its 2025–26 budget, the board was reporting a projected $32 million deficit, a figure that received considerable media attention. The province took control of the board’s administration on April 23, 2025, following a financial investigation.

“They should have been able to clear this up and hand it back to the trustees. I want to know why that’s not being done.”

The TVDSB remains under provincial supervision, with provincial supervisor Paul Boniferro overseeing the board's financial and operational decisions. Day-to-day financial administration remains with TVDSB Treasurer Jeff Major, the board's senior superintendent of corporate services. Kevin Auckland is now the board’s CEO, a position he took over on July 1, 2026, replacing interim Director of Education Bill Tucker.

McKinnon said he is also worried about the lack of transparency, with meetings being held out of the public eye.

“We do not know what’s going on behind the scenes in these in-camera meetings, which are illegal. At least if you have your trustees there, they can make the decisions and know what’s going on. That is not being done, and the public is not being made aware of anything happening at the board level.”

He added that while there was likely a good reason for the province to step in, locking out trustees doesn’t make any sense.

“I don’t think it was the trustees they should have gotten rid of. Somebody was spending the money, but it certainly wasn’t the elected officials who make $1,100 a month. What are they really trying to do?”

McKinnon said he has already been contacted by several teachers, parents and Oxford County Warden Marcus Ryan, who are concerned about the issues facing the board. Unfortunately, there is little he can do to help at this point.

“They are concerned about what’s going on in the classroom, classroom sizes, the area attendance review at East Oxford Public School, and they aren’t being heard. They don’t have anybody on their side to fight for them.”

Before the province took control of the board, McKinnon said, parents would typically receive answers to their questions or see issues resolved quickly. He added that he is also concerned members of the media are not having their questions answered.

This reporter sent two emails to the TVDSB seeking a statement about the board’s decision to terminate school bus monitors who assist with the safety of students with special needs. The first email was sent Aug. 21, followed by a second email on Aug. 24. The board did not respond to either request. The story can be found at https://www.granthaven.com/post/area-school-boards-cut-funding-for-school-bus-monitors-1.

Lampkin, also an Ingersoll resident, did not respond to Grant Haven Media’s request for an interview.