A wave of intervention is sweeping across Ontario’s school boards. The provincial government has placed a fourth Greater Toronto Area board under direct supervision, while issuing a stern warning to another, citing deep-seated financial and governance problems.
The Peel District School Board, the province’s second largest, faces immediate scrutiny. Education Minister Paul Calandra has halted a planned layoff of 60 classroom teachers, a move officials feared would destabilize the learning environment for students and families.
Peel board officials have 14 days to address five consecutive years of budget deficits, threatening the board’s long-term financial health. The Minister will then decide whether to continue the intensive oversight, a measure designed to restore fiscal responsibility.
Simultaneously, the York Catholic District School Board has been given two weeks to respond to concerns regarding “inadequate financial management” and a pattern of leadership instability. A constant turnover in key positions has fueled ongoing governance issues, hindering the board’s ability to effectively serve its students.
Minister Calandra emphasized the need to end internal conflict and ensure every dollar reaches the classroom. He stated the priority is to redirect resources towards student success, free from the distractions of administrative turmoil.
These actions follow the placement of six other school boards under government supervision, including those in Toronto and Dufferin-Peel. The province maintains these interventions are necessary to build a more accountable and effective public education system focused on fundamental skills and improved student outcomes.
However, opposition parties are fiercely critical, labeling the move a “power grab” that undermines local accountability. They argue the government is deflecting attention from its own shortcomings, such as increasing class sizes and deteriorating support for special education.
Liberal critics questioned how many more boards will be taken over before the government acknowledges its own failures. They highlighted the uncertainty created for educators attempting to plan for the future amidst this ongoing instability.
The NDP raised concerns that the increased bureaucracy is hindering access to vital information for parents of students with disabilities, who are already struggling to navigate a complex system. They argue the government is adding layers of administration instead of providing meaningful support.
