When asked Friday by CTV News whether they support spending $900,000 for renovations to their administrative building, the vast majority of responding trustees answered in the affirmative.
Five of the six trustees who provided definitive answers say they plan to vote in favour of the board’s proposed 2014-15 budget – which includes the renovation work – next Monday.
Colin Harrington, John Hendry, Andrea Mitchell, Mike Ramsay and Kathleen Woodcock all say they’re in favour of the budget, although Ramsay was the only one to elaborate on why.
“It will result in substantial savings to the board in the form of not having to rent space for staff training and other activities,” he said in an email.
“I believe this to be a reasonable component of the budget that will ensure the continued support of the board’s programs and services for students and front-line staff in an efficient manner.”
Harold Paisley, Margaret Johnston and Elliot Fung did not immediately respond to inquiries made.
Kathi Smith said she wouldn’t give her thoughts until after the budget vote, while Cindy Watson is opposed to the renovation.
That leaves only board chair Ted Martin, who declined an interview request from CTV News for the second straight day.
Martin didn’t stay completely silent on the issue though, letting his feelings be known on Twitter.
“Another fine example of superficial reporting by CTV: no need to get facts when half truths make a better story,” he wrote.
The WRDSB plans to spend $470,000 to convert existing space in its Ardelt Avenue administrative building into a meeting room capable of holding 200 people, and an additional $430,000 for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and asbestos removal work.
Earlier this year, the board completed a $1-million renovation of its boardroom. Funding for that project was approved in 2012.
