The Peel public school board must immediately address the “deeply disturbing” systemic racism, discrimination and dysfunction uncovered by provincial reviewers, says Education Minister Stephen Lecce.

And among the first orders issued by the minister — and one he expects to be completed as soon as possible — is for the board to say it is sorry.

“In light of the harm to the community, particularly to the Black communities, the board shall give full and fair consideration to making a responsive and respectful apology,” says one of Lecce’s 27 directives.

Speaking to reporters at Queen’s Park on Friday, Lecce said he expects a “sincere apology.”

“There is no reason for further delay,” he said.

“I think the report unveiled a deep-seated culture of discrimination, of racism, that is deeply disturbing to be quite frank,” Lecce added.

“The report sheds light on a culture that must change.”

Lecce sent in three reviewers late last year to the troubled Peel District School Board amid allegations of racism — especially anti-Black racism — as well as trustee misconduct, and governance issues. Their final report was officially issued Friday.

The education minister said he “(wants) the board to know we are watching them” and that he will swoop in and force change if it doesn’t act.

“The board has indicated they will take action,” he said. “In the absence of action, I will take action.”

A statement from Education Director Peter Joshua and Chair Brad MacDonald promised “action will be swift, bold and transformative — those we serve deserve nothing less.”

Lecce has given the board tight timelines to make change — including that it hire an additional integrity commissioner, trustees “immediately cease” any involvement in staff hiring and promotions, better trustee training, hiring a mediator to improve relations among trustees and between trustees and senior staff and conduct a full performance appraisal of the director.

He has also said the board needs a “comprehensive, four-year strategy and action plan” to “eliminate significant disproportionalities in enrolment, achievement and outcomes of Black students, other racialized students and Indigenous students” in applied courses and special education, and their low numbers in specialized programs such as International Baccalaureate and arts programs.

The Peel board said “trustees and senior leadership are reviewing the report, and will be taking immediate action on the directives.”

It is “clear to all trustees that the consultation surfaced serious and deeply concerning accounts of traumatic experiences, especially for members of Peel’s Black community and other racialized communities. These speak to systemic and historical barriers related to access to pathways and programming, academic achievement, transitions to post-secondary education and the workforce, hiring and promotion, community engagement, as well as disciplinary measures both in education and employment.”

It also acknowledged a “lack of confidence in the board of trustees and senior leadership, particularly with respect to racism and equity. To restore confidence, the board commits to taking immediate action on all of the directives.”

New Democrat MPP Laura Mae Lindo, her party’s critic for anti-racism, said the reviewers’ findings “are horrifying, but sadly not surprising.”

She said Lecce must create a “clear way for incidents of anti-Black racism within the board leadership to be reported,” which his directives don’t cover.

“Similarly, the minister has failed to provide reporting mechanisms for the same parents, students and staff whose experiences should have prompted this review many years ago,” she said.

The provincial reviewers — Ena Chadha, Shawn Richard and Sue Herbert — heard “difficult and painful” stories from more than 300 people, and took issue with senior leaders at the board for being “paralyzed by inaction” to make changes.

Their investigation was assisted by Patrick Case, a human rights lawyer and assistant deputy education minister.

Black students comprise 10.2 per cent of high school students, but make up 22.5 per cent of those suspended. They found examples where Black students were suspended from school for reasons such as “wearing a hoodie,” do-rags or even hoop earrings.

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Black students, they found, are also the target of “degrading, inappropriate and racist comments” made by teachers and principals, and often hear other students use the N-word without punishment.

Islamophobia was also cited as a concern, including offensive curriculum materials, as well as the presence of white supremacists at a board meeting.

The report also notes that more than 80 per cent of students are from diverse backgrounds, while just one-quarter of staff are, “almost the opposite of the demographics of the student body.”