Provincial intervention in governance of York Catholic District School Board may be imminent
The York Catholic District School Board finds itself at the centre of Ontario's education shakeup, with the possibility of a supervisor being appointed to take control of its financial management.
In June, the board was required to submit a new financial plan to the province due to worsening finances. This follows a multi-year financial recovery plan submitted by the board in January, which was approved by Queen's Park. However, the Ford government's decision to appoint supervisors was made after third-party investigators confirmed financial mismanagement by trustees.
Currently, eight Ontario school boards are labelled as "high" risk financially, and so far, only five have been placed under supervision. The Toronto Public School Board, Toronto Catholic School Board, and Ottawa-Carleton District School Board are among those already under supervision. The York Catholic District School Board could join this list.
The board has faced several financial challenges in recent years, including declining school enrolment, inadequate funding for special education, and rising transportation and IT infrastructure costs.
Paul Calandra, the education minister, has appointed supervisors to take control of several of Ontario's largest school boards. He is currently reviewing the York Catholic District School Board's new financial plan and deciding if he will approve it. If he does not, trustees could be sidelined, and a supervisor appointed.
If the board's financial management is investigated by the province, it may face increased oversight, potential administrative changes, and mandated financial reforms to ensure responsible management.
The Ford government is restoring accountability in Ontario's education system and putting all trustees on notice. A statement from the government's office suggests that trustees should focus on their mandate or step aside.
Meanwhile, the Durham Catholic District School Board does not currently have an accumulated deficit, limiting the government's ability to step in. The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board is suggested to remain untouched by the Ford government's education shakeup.
NDP education critic Chandra Pasma, however, states that underfunding, not mismanagement, is the root cause of deficits in Ontario's school boards. The legislation tabled in the spring could, if passed, remove the roadblock for the government to intervene in the Durham Catholic District School Board.
The fate of the York Catholic District School Board's financial situation currently rests in the hands of the province. With the government's focus on restoring accountability and financial responsibility, the board will need to demonstrate effective financial management to avoid the appointment of a supervisor.
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