Two School Boards Under Provincial Supervision

Thursday, 24 April 2025 06:44

The Ministry of Education says the TVDSB and the BHNCDSB have been subject to financial mismanagement.

ONTARIO - Ontario is appointing a supervisor for the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) and the Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board (BHNCDSB).

Minister of Education Paul Calandra says both school boards have been subject to financial mismanagement recently and this will make sure they stay focused on what matters most; education.

"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."

A report states that the TVDSB used board funds to send senior board members to a three day retreat at the former SkyDome Hotel in Toronto back in August, 2024. It also says four trustees with the BHNCDSB went to Italy in July, 2024 to buy art for two new schools. This resulted in $190,000 being spent, including $63,000 in legal fees.

The province says the supervisor for these school boards will have to submit an implementation plan, to make sure they're meeting the Ministry of Education's fiscal and governance expectations.

In addition to all of this, the Ford Government is also launching financial investigations for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the Toronto District School Board. It says these boards have failed to address ongoing financial deficit and spending concerns.

Calandra says the investigations will validate the school boards’ current financial positions and report back to the Ministry.

"We have been clear: transparency and accountability from Ontario school boards is mandatory. Further actions will be taken if the situation at these school boards does not improve. As the new Minister of Education, I will be looking at every avenue to bring more transparency, consistency and accountability to all school boards across the province."