In a June 7 letter to the education minister, Alway reported that the board will have a balanced budget for this year and the next two years until 2012-2013. In the letter, Alway said the projected
balance for the next few years “is both fiscally and educationally sustainable, featuring modest reinvestments in smaller class sizes in Grades 4-8, in information technology, improved human
resources and governance processes.”

Alway told The Catholic Register that the minister's letter is echoing the positive steps taken at the board to re-establish stability and transparency in governance.

“I think the signal is that (the Catholic community) should have real confidence in their school board. The operation is being conducted in a financially responsible way,” he said. “We're doing
this, while keeping our eye firmly on the primary goal of student achievement.”

Murielle Boudreau, chair of the Greater Toronto Catholic Parent Network, says the group is pleased to hear that trustees could be back in power soon.

“We have been without any control. The government has been running our board. That's just wrong. I'm looking forward to the election and new trustees,” she said.

Meanwhile, former board chair Catherine LeBlanc-Miller suggested a “co-management” arrangement where trustees work with the board supervisor to prepare the board when it comes out of
supervision.

In other news, as of June 11, there are 17 trustee candidates for the October municipal election.

So far, there have been only four wards (Wards 5, 6, 9 and 12) which have at least two candidates in the running. The rest have only one candidate with no one running in Ward 4, the seat
occupied by current trustee Mary Cicogna. Three sitting trustees are also running: John Del Grande (Ward 7), LeBlanc-Miller (Ward 9) and Sal Piccininni (Ward 3).