A Toronto District School Board trustee is speaking out against a decision to spend several thousand dollars on a fact-finding mission to China.
Board members passed a motion on Friday that will fly two trustees and two board members to the Asian country to discuss public education.
Josh Matlow, the only trustee to vote against the plan, says the money should be put toward improving Toronto schools.
"Our school board's priorities have to be protecting our kids, and making sure that they're safe when they go to school," Matlow said.
"We have buildings that need better repair, and we have programs that need investments."
The Chinese government has offered to pay for the majority of expenses during the trip.
But the TDSB, which faces a $7-million deficit for the 2007-2008 school year, will have to cover the airfare.
CTV Toronto did an online search, and found round-trip tickets from Toronto to Beijing start at about $1,200 each -- putting the price tag for four travellers just short of $5,000.
The TDSB says the money will come from a fund each trustee is given to promote professional development.
Chris Bolton, who brought the fact-finding motion forward, is one of the two trustees scheduled to travel to China.
He told CTV News there are 20,000 Mandarin-speaking students under the TDSB's umbrella, and the money will be well spent.
While Matlow admits they board won't be spending a lot of cash, he says it's the principle he has a problem with.
"We have kids at risk .... This isn't a time to be spending tax dollars on a junket to China," Matlow said.
With a report from CTV's MairiAnna Bachynsky
