Urgent Audit Reveals OCDSB’s Special Education Overspend

UPDATE: An urgent report reveals the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) spends over 25% more on special education than it receives from the provincial government. This alarming finding was presented to the audit committee today, highlighting significant financial challenges facing one of Canada’s largest school boards.

The Ontario East Regional Internal Audit Team conducted the assessment, which underscores the board’s commitment to special education despite persistent budget pressures. The report states that the OCDSB is investing heavily, demonstrating “significant strengths” in its approach to special education, even while operating under financial strain.

Audit committee chair Donna Blackburn emphasized the importance of these findings, stating, “These are accountants. They have no political motivation… We are underfunded. They said it.” The board is currently under the supervision of Bob Plamondon, appointed to address concerns over financial mismanagement and growing deficits.

In an email to families dated August 27, 2023, Education Minister Paul Calandra assured parents that Plamondon will work to balance the budget and ensure that funding is directed to classrooms, where it is most needed.

According to the report, the OCDSB allocates a significant portion of its budget to special education, aligning with the highest spending boards in the region. Approximately 54% of all OCDSB elementary special education students were placed in fully self-contained classrooms during the 2022-23 school year. The report warns that this “over-reliance” on self-contained classes could limit inclusive education opportunities.

Blackburn noted that part of this statistic includes students from specialized schools such as Crystal Bay and Clifford Bowey, which cater to children with developmental disabilities, drawing around 200 students from across the city. “We have an obligation to honor those students’ basic human rights to be in schools,” she stated.

The OCDSB also spends more on gifted programs than most other boards in the region, although some Ontario boards allocate a higher percentage of their budgets to similar programs. This overspending was anticipated, as trustees were informed last spring that the board was already exceeding its funding by about $10 million annually.

Additionally, the board faces potential cuts amounting to $3.8 million to special education services, including essential staff like psychologists and speech-language pathologists. During recent meetings, trustees engaged in emotional discussions regarding the fate of summer programs for students with developmental delays and autism, programs that are not mandated but are critical for many families.

Due to the ongoing supervision, decision-making power has shifted from the trustees to a five-person audit committee, as mandated by Ontario law. Plamondon has only made one public statement since his appointment, indicating that the board’s operational challenges extend beyond budgeting and into the fundamentals of education, which he believes affects both trust and student enrollment.

“Supervision is not just a change in governance — it’s an opportunity to move quickly and make the positive changes our students need and deserve,” Plamondon stated.

This urgent situation demands immediate attention as the OCDSB navigates its financial landscape while striving to provide quality education for all its students. Stakeholders and families are advised to stay informed as developments unfold.

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