Highlights from the 22 recommendations,

Education Minister Mitzie Hunter has outlined nearly two dozen recommendations for the York Region District School Board to implement to fix the “profoundly troubling” problems outlined in the investigators’ report.

In a letter sent to the board Tuesday morning, Hunter said some of her 22 recommendations should be dealt with immediately.

The recommendations include ensuring support for students and staff who have felt the impact of equityrelated issues, asking the board to start a full performance review of the director and launching an audit “to ensure the board is in compliance with all expenditures.”

She then gave the board directives that must be addressed in the short term. Among them:

Immediately suspend all international travel by trustees, the director of education and senior staff.

Within 24 hours, ask all staff to make use of the employee assistance program.

By the end of April, submit a plan for governance and equity training for all trustees, the director and senior administration.

By the end of April, submit a plan for rebuilding trust and re-engaging with communities.

Establish a policy and process for receiving and investigating complaints of racism at the board.

Establish the position of senior administrator responsible for equity.

Submit a progress report on the establishment of the office of integrity commissioner by May 9.

Have a “360 performance appraisal” of the director of education, conducted by an external human resources professional, completed no later than May 31

In the longer term, with a window of a year, the report puts forward more than two dozen recommendations that touch upon everything from a review of the director and his 10-year contract, the implementation of a human rights office and the appointment of an integrity commissioner.

In a release sent out by the board, new chair Loralea Carruthers said trustees have already begun work on some of the recommendations.

Those recommendations include creating committees to deal with racism, ceasing international travel and meeting with experts to begin developing and implementing a full equity plan.

They have also started the process of hiring an integrity commissioner.

Hunter said she was “giving the board an opportunity to comply with my directions that I am providing them.

“Should I have concerns about their ability to comply, then I can send in an investigator . . . and if there are further concerns, it can move to supervision.”