OCDSB Statement - Ministry Announcement
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) acknowledges the announcement made today by the Ontario government regarding increased accountability measures for school boards.
The OCDSB is committed to financial accountability and transparency. We take the government’s concerns seriously and will fully cooperate with the announced investigation into our financial position. Our primary focus remains on providing high-quality education and supporting student success for all our students.
We acknowledge the deficits incurred over the past four years. The deficits in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 were related to pandemic response efforts, including maintaining daycare staffing and technology infrastructure to support student learning. The deficits in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal years were largely due to shortfalls, specifically regarding retroactive payments related to Bill 124 and cost of living allowances. Our analysis indicates that a key driver of the shortfall is a misalignment between our staffing model and the current funding formula.
Other areas of financial concern include replacement costs associated with staff absences and our model for special education, both of which are significantly underfunded. This is also compounded by the moratorium on school closures, in particular, as we have multiple schools well below the required occupancy rates.
We have already taken proactive steps to address transportation funding shortfalls in the 2024-2025 budget. In addition, the OCDSB has been working on a structural deficit action plan that involves a significant reduction in academic and non-academic positions. We are also proposing program changes that will allow us to more effectively and efficiently utilize our resources.
We value the trust our students, parents/guardians, staff, and the broader community place in us, and we are dedicated to using taxpayer funds responsibly to benefit our students and school communities. The OCDSB will work diligently with the Ministry of Education throughout this process.
We will continue to keep our community informed as we learn more.
Lynn Scott
Chair of the Board
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board