Oxford school board trustee opens up about being shut out

Lee Griffi, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

David Cripps wasn’t allowed to talk to the media as a vice chair and trustee of the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB), but the Ingersoll resident said nothing is holding him back now.

The province assumed control of the TVDSB in April 2025, and on May 1, appointed supervisor Paul Boniferro to oversee all financial and operational decisions. According to the government, the intervention was prompted by longstanding concerns about financial mismanagement, including persistent deficits and several spending decisions it deemed unacceptable, leading the province to conclude direct oversight was necessary.

Even though Cripps and his fellow trustees aren’t being paid and have no access to their email accounts or any other information, he is still doing what he can to help.

“Director of Education Bill Tucker will take my calls, so if someone approaches me, I am still able to relay information to him, but that’s really the extent of my role. There’s been no guidance other than the minister’s musings, I’ll call them.”

The Ingersoll resident and small business owner acknowledges change is needed within the school board system, but emphasized it must include local, trustworthy and accessible with people who can support education on the ground – especially in Oxford and other rural communities. Cripps admitted trustees are not always the best positioned to solve every education issue but said having a local voice is an important starting point.

“As a parent, it always brought me comfort and faith in the system, knowing there was someone in Ingersoll or Woodstock or East Zorra-Tavistock I could reach out to and have a conversation with to at least get some direction on how to navigate the system. In my opinion, we are at risk of losing that.”

The Ontario government recently passed Bill 33, granting the minister of education significantly expanded powers to investigate school boards and intervene in their operations. Under the new legislation, the minister can launch probes into board governance, issue binding directives and, in certain circumstances, assume control over a board’s decision-making authority. Supporters argue the changes will improve accountability and strengthen public confidence in the education system, while critics warn the bill undermines local democracy by weakening the role of elected trustees and centralizing power within the provincial government.

The minister would be able to issue binding directives to boards in the “public interest.” If boards fail to comply, the province could assume their powers, in effect, overriding democratically elected trustees as has occurred at the Thames Valley District School Board.

Education Minister Paul Calandra has said he will bring forward a plan by year’s end to eliminate school board trustees “100 per cent.” Cripps takes the minister at his word but is concerned about a lack of transparency and clarity from the province. He would also welcome a conversation with Ontario’s top brass.

“I would appreciate the minister or the premier, the folks saying all trustees are horrible, to come and take a look at what (Oxford trustee) Leeanne (Hopkins) and I have done here. I think we were changing the game for the people in Oxford.”

Every fall, when schools are back in session, there are transportation issues that arise, some of which have tremendous effects on students and families. Cripps remembered one instance in the Norwich area where he was able to lend a hand.

“The mayor had called me up and said there was a student with a disability who had to walk three kilometres to catch her bus and she’s on a back road. I was able to work with the superintendent and we were instantly able to recognize there was a data problem with the bus company.”

Cripps, a father of four, decided to run for office after having positive experiences with the education system when his children were in school.

“I have four kids and during my time there were all kinds of things that cropped up and I felt super supported by principals and board staff, but there were also occasions when it was a bit of a challenge.”

He added the trustees he reached out to were always open and accessible.

“I wanted to continue that openness and lots of folks in Oxford feel we sort of play second fiddle since everything is in London. I made it part of my mandate to open up that accessibility.”

Cripps believed he and Hopkins were making progress and the pair addressed each municipal council in the county in recent months.    

“A number of the mayors reached out directly to us with issues they had directly experienced, and we were able to help those folks. I think we were going down the right path.”