YCDSB pushes back on the Ministry: Good for you!
TORONTO – Some school boards in recent years have distinguished themselves for inanity, obstinacy and complete indifference to the academic and social needs of the children and adolescents in their care. The agencies (Fraser Institute, OQEO primarily) tasked with measuring outcomes of student performances paint a bleak picture for Ontario’s Boards, their schools and their students. There are exceptions, of course – this article points to one – but generally they are led by lacklustre administrators, careerists, bereft of any ambition to professionalize their workforce or to draw on the connection to the community their trustees might offer for “guidance”.
This is no idle observation. I have attended, in person or virtually, more board meetings than I care to admit; talked to a phalanx of trustees (mostly off the record) to gather their insights, inform my analyses and fact check conclusions based on academic foundations and experience in the field. Not every board or officials return calls.
I and the Corriere Canadese have not avoided shining the light on matters in the public interest: transparency and accountability. Many issues flow from perceptions of duties to the electorate as defined in the Constitution, Provincial powers in the Education Act, the Human Rights Code, obligations to local ratepayers – no matter how that funding formula is now executed. In the final analysis, everything is a governance issue reflecting “the interests of the child” as expressed through the province/Ministry, the local taxpayer/family and the magisterium/ideology. It is a complex formula.
Seven months ago, June, 2025, the Minister of Education, and the government he represents, tired of the cavalier demeanor of [some] boards or of their financial practices proceeded to place them (five to start) under supervision. Boards of trustees – except for those in Catholic districts – ceased to exist. The Administrators responsible for the operations and questionable financial practices kept their jobs. Those in the Toronto Catholic Board, for example, went from $100 million surplus to a $48 million deficit from February to November, in 2024, yet stayed in place – no questions asked and senior staff all received hefty raises in pay prior to the announced supervision.
Think what you want, in comparison, the York Catholic District School Board comes as an icon of probity, innovative programs and good outcomes, the pettiness and irresponsibility of some officials notwithstanding. Nonetheless, the Minister alerted them to the intended investigation that could lead to supervision. Nothing like a crisis to focus the mind.
Chair M. Iafrate and Interim Director E. Sarna convened an emergency meeting of the Board to address some of the publicly expressed concerns of Minister Calandra in respect of the YCDSB prior to committing to action. At said meeting on Tuesday, February 17, the CFO presented a summary of a three-year financial plan for academic 2025-26, ’26-’27and ’27-’28. It had already been approved by the Ministry prior to the start of the process, said the CFO respectfully, adding that “the current plan has not worsened”.
His presentation (available on our site) acknowledged some challenges (transportation, sick leave plans and teacher absenteeism to name three) that require more focused direction than had been the case in the past, however, he advised trustees, the MYFP is a contract between the Ministry and the YCDSB, and “equipped with the required three characteristics – “discipline, oversight and accountability” – to make it work and produce a balanced budget by 2028.
As reassurance, the Chair and Director read a common/shared statement as a combined commitment to that outcome. Only one trustee (from Newmarket) “forgot to read the memo” concerning the seriousness of the request to approve what was been presented by the Chair. Saner heads prevailed and gave the Minister an unqualified unanimity of the Board’s position. Good on the Board.
In the pic above, a screenshot of the Tuesday, February 10, Board meeting at the YCDSB (from the video on the Board’s YouTube channel); from left, Interim Director Jennifer Sarna and President Maria Iafrate
