Ontario takes control of school board over finances, launches investigations into others

The Ford government has appointed a supervisor to take control of an Ontario school board after controversy around its spending and is launching fresh investigations into three other boards.

Newly appointed Education Minister Paul Calandra announced a series of interventions at school boards on Wednesday afternoon, saying he would increase transparency after a series of “failures” by local trustees.

The government said it would be appointing a supervisor to the Thames Valley District School Board and forcing the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board to submit a financial and governance plan.

The moves come because of reports that found “extremely poor judgment by the school boards in the use of public funds,” the government said in a news release.

Trustees at the Thames Valley board made headlines last year after an off-site retreat to the Blue Jays stadium hotel that cost nearly $40,000. The Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic board undertook a trip to Italy, which cost $45,000 and where a further $100,000 was spent on art.

While school boards are run by directly elected trustees, they are governed by provincial legislation, which allows the Ontario government to take direct control of their operations by appointing a supervisor.

It’s a rare move that effectively sidelines elected trustees and gives the government direct say over how policies are implemented and money is made. Most recently, the province put the Peel District School Board under supervision in 2020 after reports of discrimination and anti-Black racism.

Now, Thames Valley District School Board will have a provincial supervisor appointed because of how Queen’s Park views its finances — both relating to its trip to the Toronto Blue Jays and the deficits it ran more generally.

“They have structural deficits over multiple years without any clear path to a balanced budget — as is required,” Calandra said Wednesday.

After reports of the Blue Jays trip first surfaced, the province commissioned an investigation into the Thames Valley Board, appointing PricewaterhouseCoopers to look at its finances.

The report found cases where the board had apparently failed to follow executive salary guidelines and “indications of potential financial mismanagement.” That report ultimately recommended a supervisor.

While the Brant Haldimand board spent more money on its Italy trip than Thames Valley did on the Blue Jays hotel, Calandra said its overall finances were in better shape.

It has avoided having a supervisor appointed for now, but must complete financial and management recommendations, as well as repay the costs of the trip within 30 days.

“If that board doesn’t do what we are asking them to do, if they don’t follow through on the additional recommendations, then I will use the tools that are available to me to take further action,” he said.

Separately, Ontario will also launch financial investigations into the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board.

The province said those investigations came after the boards failed to address “ongoing financial deficit and spending concerns.”

Both Toronto boards face investigations over the deficits they are projected to run.

The government said the Catholic board was put on its radar in 2024, when it retained Deloitte to look at the board’s “deteriorating financial position.” That report, according to the province, said it could have done more to avoid its financial issues.

The Toronto District board was flagged by a 2024 auditor general report, the province said, and ordered to submit a financial recovery plan. So far, it said that the financial plan had not been received, setting off alarm bells at Queen’s Park.

Both boards will face financial investigations managed directly by the province. They’ll conclude on May 30 and could see the government take control of Toronto’s largest boards through supervision.

In Ottawa, the government said it was concerned the board had “completely depleted” its reserves.

Calandra, who took over the education file from Jill Dunlop last month, said the moves were about improving transparency and accountability.

“Our government will be relentless in ensuring school boards stay focused on what matters most: equipping students with the tools they need to succeed,” he said in a statement.

“School boards must remain accountable and use public funds to directly benefit students and provide teachers and educators with the resources they need in the classroom.”