The government of Ontario says it has appointed supervisors to oversee the finances of four school boards following investigations into what the province has called “ongoing cases of mismanagement.”
The move comes after three investigations into the school boards, which include the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB).
Ontario said the supervisors will address concerns over growing deficits and depleting reserves in these four school boards.
Minister of Education Paul Calandra said the school boards have failed in their responsibilities to parents and students, impacting student success.
“These boards have had multiple opportunities to address their structural financial issues, and time and again, they have failed to do so,” he said during a June 27 news conference.
He said that parents and educators expected a school system where spending decisions put students first.
“When school boards fail to meet that basic obligation, it is my duty as Minister of Education to act, and that is why we are appointing supervisors with a clear mandate to get these boards back on track.”
Calandra said that while the government has focused on four school boards, it was sending a message to all school boards in the province.
“Every school board across the province of Ontario should be put on notice that we’re refocusing it on students, teachers, and parents.”
The government said the move was part of recommendations made by investigations into the school boards, including of TDSB and OCDSB completed by PriceWaterhouseCooper LLC and TCDSB by Deloitte LLP. Earlier in June, the ministry conducted its own investigation into DPCDSB. The government noted it was the second investigation into DPCDSB that recommended supervision.
The minister told reporters that each board had a “different challenge.”
The OCDSB has been “running multi-year deficits” Calandra said, adding they have not “lived up to” the responsibility to balance the books.
“It’s a board where multiple trustees have resigned, where parents are frustrated over things that the board is doing,” he told reporters at the news conference.
He said that TDSB says it has a balanced budget, but that it relied on selling assets to get there, which is not sustainable.
An investigation found that over the past two years, TDSB rejected 46 percent of cost savings proposal brought forward by management, the government said in a news release.
Calandra said the TCDSB has a $75 million deficit.
Meanwhile, the DPCDSB was on the “brink of bankruptcy,” he said.
Ontario also said that the DPCDSB is at risk for financial default by the end of August.
“It’s not just about getting back to balance. It’s about reviewing all of the operations of the board, how they’re spending money. Review where money is. If money is not being spent on classroom education, to prioritize classroom education. It’s about building back a sustainable long-term financial footing,” the minister said.
Calandra recently introduced legislation that would give his ministry the authority to investigate school boards if there is a concern over a “matter of public interest.” Currently, a third party is required to investigate and make recommendations to the minister.
Reaction
The Epoch Times attempted to contact the boards but did not hear back from the TDSB or TCDSB by publication time.DPCDSB and OCDSB told The Epoch Times in separate emails they have been directed to refer media inquiries back to the government.
The director of education for TDSB, Clayton La Touche, posted a notice on the board’s website to parents about the government’s actions.
“The powers of Trustees are now vested in the Minister of Education, who has appointed a supervisor,” Touche wrote.
Touche said that Rohit Gupta had been appointed as the supervisor for the board.
“As more information becomes available, this will be shared with you. Our focus continues to be on supporting students,” the post said.
The TCDSB also posted about the government’s action on its website, saying the board “remains committed” to working in partnership with the ministry.
It said that Frank Benedetto has been appointed as supervisor for the board.
TCDSB said that all trustees’ powers would be vested in the supervisors, except for denominational matters, which will be deferred to trustees for decision.
“As this process unfolds, our focus will remain on what matters most: supporting student success,” the post said. “Families can be assured that the Director of Education and the senior leadership team will work closely with the Supervisor to minimize any impact on students and classroom learning.”
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) also commented on the government’s actions, noting that Calandra said most school boards were doing well.
“School board trustees across Ontario take their roles very seriously, particularly their commitment to being financially responsible, transparent, and accountable to the communities and students they serve,” OPSBA President Kathleen Woodcock said in a statement posted on the organization’s website.
“We urge the supervisors to maintain open and transparent lines of communication with the trustees who represent parents, students, and communities. We truly are all in this together for our students.”
Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF) said the government’s move was a power grab.
“The Ford government is taking control of four school boards — TDSB, OCDSB, TCDSB, and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic board — in a sweeping move that will likely undermine local democracy,” OSSTF said in a social media post.
Ontario said the supervisors will “represent the ministry’s vested control” of the school boards. It said they would oversee administration of the boards, which includes financial management, policy implementation, and operational oversight.
Thames Valley School Board
The province previously appointed a supervisor for the Thames Valley District School Board in April.That school district was audited after spending nearly $40,000 on a teacher retreat last year. The district was operating in a deficit at the time, according to then-education minister Jill Dunlop.
The retreat was held in August 2024 and included costs for 18 senior staff to stay at a hotel inside the Rogers Centre baseball stadium.
