Focus on Trustee Expenses in the Ford Administration Diversionary Tactic, Critics Argue, Regarding School Funding Remarks

Evidence acquired by Global News indicates a rise in financial struggles among various Ontario school districts over the past few years.

, and ASMedia

2025 September 20 . 1:57 AM

2 min read

Government's focus on trustee expenses criticized as a diversion from funding school initiatives,... — Government's focus on trustee expenses criticized as a diversion from funding school initiatives, according to a detractor

Focus on Trustee Expenses in the Ford Administration Diversionary Tactic, Critics Argue, Regarding School Funding Remarks

The Ontario government has committed a record $30.3 billion to education this year, an increase from last year's budget. However, this focus on funding has sparked a debate, with critics arguing that the spotlight on trustee expenses is overshadowing the growing issues in the classroom.

In the 2020-21 school year, 61 out of 72 public school boards reported a surplus, while only 11 were in deficit. However, the following year, the number of boards in deficit dropped into the 40s and has remained there since. This trend is highlighted in internal documents obtained by Global News, which show that the number of school boards reporting deficits has increased in the past five years, with a total deficit across the province's 72 boards of almost $200 million last year.

Kathleen Woodcock, the president of the Ontario Public School Boards Association, has voiced concerns about the growing costs boards have to handle. She cites the cost of supports for students with special educational needs, school closure moratorium, and rises in pension and unemployment insurance costs as factors squeezing boards. The education minister is planning a massive overhaul of how school boards are run, with a focus on ensuring every dollar spent benefits students.

However, the Ford government has been accused of focusing on the spending of school board trustees as evidence of mismanagement. Education critic Chandra Pasma, of the NDP, states that this focus fails to address the problems in the sector. Pasma also urges the government to roll out more funding increases to address the $404 per-student funding gap compared to 2018.

The controversy has led to accusations and counter-accusations. The Ford government has ordered the chair of the Toronto Catholic board to return almost $7,000 in equipment and supplies. In response, a group advocating on behalf of trustees labeled the education minister a "hypocrite" due to his own expenses. The names of the school district chairpersons asked to repay due to unnecessary expenses by the government representative of the Ford cabinet are not publicly disclosed.

The ministry is projecting the overall deficit would improve to $142.7 million in 2025-26, with 25 of the province's 72 boards in deficit. Despite this, the overall pot of money that school boards are overcommitted by has also increased. The documents also indicate that since the 2021-22 year, the sector has reported net in-year deficits consecutively for three years.

The debate continues, with both sides emphasizing the importance of ensuring funds are used effectively to benefit students. As the government moves forward with its overhaul of school board management, it remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and resolved.