Supervisors’ Salaries Spark Controversy in Ottawa School Boards

Supervisors overseeing five school boards in Ontario, including the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), are set to earn up to $350,000 annually. This compensation equates to $2,000 per day for their mandated roles, which have emerged following concerns over financial mismanagement and increasing deficits within these boards.

The provincial government has appointed these supervisors to manage the administration of the boards, ensuring effective financial management, policy implementation, and operational oversight. Each supervisor is required to provide regular updates to the Ministry of Education. In June 2023, Bob Plamondon, an experienced auditor, was designated as the supervisor for the OCDSB. Recently, he announced the cancellation of controversial elementary school boundary changes, a decision that has drawn significant public attention.

During a press conference at Queen’s Park, Stephen Lecce, Ontario’s Minister of Education, defended the supervisors’ salaries, citing the challenges faced by the boards. He stated, “I expect the supervisors will be paid the maximum amount. I’m not shy or embarrassed of the fact that there is a budget in place for these supervisors to do their work, and I expect them to do it and I will hold them accountable.”

The remuneration for the 12 trustees at the OCDSB is approximately $16,000 per year. With the board currently under supervision, trustee compensation has been suspended, and decision-making authority has been transferred to Plamondon.

Criticism of the supervisors’ pay has surfaced from various stakeholders. Chandra Pasma, the New Democratic Party’s education critic and Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean, described the pay level as “absolutely shocking.” She noted, “These supervisors were hand-picked by the minister to replace democratically elected school board trustees, yet they’ve been hiding from parents since their appointments.”

A spokesperson for Lecce emphasized the province’s commitment to addressing failures among trustees. Emma Testani stated, “The compensation for supervisors reflects the complex work required to fix the mismanagement left by trustees.”

Elected trustees have voiced strong objections to the supervisory model. Lyra Evans, an elected trustee representing Zone 6, argued that the pay for supervisors undermines democratic representation. “You trade what would have been hundreds of hours a week for one individual who is getting paid significantly more,” Evans commented. She highlighted the lack of meaningful community feedback under the current structure.

Trustee Cathryne Milburn, who represents Zone 12, estimated she dedicated about 30 hours weekly to board business, including attending meetings and engaging with constituents. “The supervisor here has said that the Minister of Education is the spokesperson for the board, and I haven’t heard him comment on Ottawa once,” Milburn said.

Plamondon has opted not to conduct media interviews but acknowledged the limitations of the supervisory model at a recent meeting with the Special Education Advisory Committee. He stated, “This board was put under supervision for specific reasons set up by the ministry and the minister’s office. There’s only so many places that I can be, so being only one person is clearly a disadvantage.”

Despite these challenges, Plamondon asserted that supervisors have direct access to the Ministry of Education and the Minister, facilitating real-time feedback on the operational status of the boards. As the situation develops, the community remains vigilant, seeking transparency and accountability in the management of local educational institutions.