Ottawa Schools Brace for Changes as New Year Begins

Students in Ottawa are preparing to return to school this week, but significant changes loom over the upcoming academic year. The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is undergoing a major transformation, with a focus on returning students to neighborhood schools and addressing a variety of operational issues that have arisen in recent months.

A review of the elementary program initiated by the OCDSB last fall aimed to ensure the viability of local schools. Originally, decisions regarding school boundaries were expected in the previous school year, but they were delayed until May 2023. The board approved a “grandparenting” plan which permits exemptions for students as long as space is available. Implementation of boundary changes is set to begin in September 2026.

In a significant shift, the Ontario provincial government placed the OCDSB under supervision in June 2023, appointing Robert Plamondon as the supervisory officer. His role includes overseeing the board’s financial management and policy implementation, effectively removing decision-making authority from elected trustees. Plamondon, who has not conducted interviews since his appointment, released a statement on July 23, assuring parents that no students will be required to change schools for the 2025-2026 school year.

Education Minister Paul Calandra emphasized the need for the board to achieve financial stability and to review the elementary program effectively. According to his press secretary, decisions made by Plamondon will be communicated to the community regularly. Trustees’ communication channels have been suspended, but some have found alternative ways to connect with constituents, continuing to engage with the community on a personal basis.

Plamondon has also announced the reintroduction of student assessments for Grades 9 and 10, set to begin in September 2025. This move aims to better prepare students for future evaluations, as previous assessments lacked a final exam component.

Families are facing additional challenges this year, particularly concerning school bus transportation. In 2023, parents of approximately 7,500 students were informed just before the start of the school year that their children would not have access to school bus services due to recruitment difficulties. The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) has assured the public that while it does not anticipate long-term cancellations, short-term disruptions may still occur.

In a related development, public transit fare changes will affect students starting September 1, 2023. OSTA will eliminate the youth monthly pass and the pre-teen discounted fares, requiring youths aged 11 to 19 to pay the full adult fare of $135. This change is expected to increase the transit budget by $4.8 million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

Another pressing concern for families is the lack of before and after-school childcare. As of August 21, there were 1,005 children on waitlists for 68 licensed programs within OCDSB schools, highlighting a chronic shortage of early childhood educators across Ontario.

On a brighter note, two new schools are set to open in Ottawa this year. The Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario inaugurated the école élémentaire publique Des Visionnaires on August 26, offering education for students from kindergarten to Grade 6. Meanwhile, the OCDSB is establishing the Riverside South Secondary School, which will serve Grades 7 to 10 in its inaugural year, with plans to accommodate Grades 11 and 12 in subsequent years.

Education reforms initially scheduled for implementation this September have been postponed. The Ministry of Education aimed to introduce a new kindergarten curriculum and mandatory historical education on significant events, including the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide and Black Canadian history. However, Calandra announced on June 27 that these changes would be delayed until a more consistent curriculum can be prepared for the 2026-2027 academic year.

As the new school year approaches, Ottawa families must navigate these changes and uncertainties while preparing for the academic challenges ahead. The evolving landscape of education in Ottawa underscores the importance of adaptability and community engagement in ensuring a successful return to school.