A report in front of the audit committee at Ottawa’s largest school board has concluded that the board spends over 25 per cent more on special education than it receives from the provincial government. Read MoreAn independent audit team report benchmarked how much the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board spent on special education compared to other boards in the region, as well as other Ontario boards of comparable size.
An independent audit team report benchmarked how much the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board spent on special education compared to other boards in the region, as well as other Ontario boards of comparable size.
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A report in front of the audit committee at Ottawa’s largest school board has concluded that the board spends over 25 per cent more on special education than it receives from the provincial government.
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The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board “demonstrates significant strengths in its approach to special education” in part because it spends more than it receives in funding, indicating “a strong commitment despite persistent budget pressures,” said the report from the Ontario East Regional Internal Audit Team, which provides independent assessments for school boards.
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The conclusions should give Bob Plamondon, who was named the OCDSB’s supervisor on June 27, something to think about, says audit committee chair Donna Blackburn, who can’t perform that role while the OCDSB is under supervision.
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The Evening Citizen
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“These are accountants. They have no political motivation,” she said. “They just look at facts. We are underfunded. They said it.”
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Plamondon, a seasoned auditor and expert in governance, was appointed by the province as supervisor to address concerns over financial “mismanagement” and growing deficits.
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In a message to families of OCDSB students dated Aug. 27, Education Minister Paul Calandra said Plamondon “will take the time needed to not only bring the board’s budget into balance, but also ensure long-term stability for years to come, so that funding goes where it belongs: directly into classrooms to support students and teachers.”
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The Ontario East Regional Internal Audit Team report benchmarked how much the OCDSB spent on special education compared to other boards in the region, as well as other boards of comparable size.
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Most provincial funding is locked into specific purposes to meet the requirements of Ontario legislation, regulations and collective agreements. The province allocates funds for special education, but many school boards spend more than they get.
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“OCDSB is allocating a large portion of its total budget to special education, aligning with the highest spending boards,” the audit team report said.
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The report noted that OCDSB was among the highest spenders per pupil, indicating strong investment in classroom teachers.
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The OCDSB also stands out as the board with the highest percentage of special education students in fully self-contained classes among those in the study. About 54 per cent of all OCDSB elementary special education students were in fully self-contained classes in 2022-23, the report said. The “over-reliance” on self-contained classes may limit inclusive education opportunities, it added.