“Diversions at the board level or anywhere else in the system is not helpful and I think everyone recognizes that,” Alway told The Catholic Register. “The board's been through a very difficult period and I'm extremely hopeful that we've turned a large corner in the last several months.”

A trustee spending scandal and infighting among trustees led to the board being placed under provincial supervision for the past year-and-a-half.

Alway will be preparing a report to the province about board accomplishments, including a balanced budget and the “co-operation and participation” of trustees who were consulted on decisions, despite not having any decision-making power. After that, a cabinet decision can return local powers to the board, he said.

Since the province took over the board in 2008, the board has revised its code of conduct and trustee spending rules.

Alway said it's been “worthwhile” to help in the “rehabilitation of the board” since his appointment in August 2009. He said he will miss the “fellowship and involvement in a great cause that I think is worthy of being strongly supported by the Catholic community.”

At a Dec. 1 caucus meeting, trustees voted to recommend veteran trustee Ann Andrachuk as chair and new trustee Jo-Ann Davis vice-chair. The new board is a mix of six incumbent and six new trustees.

At the board's first official meeting on Dec. 8 (after The Register's deadline), which will be attended by Toronto Auxiliary Bishop William McGrattan, trustees will vote to confirm these appointments.