OCDSB supervisor reintroducing grade 9 and 10 exams this school year

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. (Tyler Fleming / CTV News Ottawa)

The provincially appointed supervisor for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) has sent his first letter to families, saying some changes are coming in the new school year, including final exams for students in grades 9 and 10.

The Ontario government appointed Robert Plamondon to oversee the OCDSB in place of elected trustees in late June, after Ottawa’s largest school board posted four straight deficit budgets, including a projected $9.2 million deficit this past school year.

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In a letter to parents and guardians on Wednesday, Plamondon said the operating challenges facing the board “go beyond budgeting.”

“Despite the dedicated efforts of teachers and staff, confidence among parents in the OCDSB has declined. Many believe the board lost focus on the fundamentals of education — impacting both trust and student enrollment,” Plamondon wrote.

He made three notable updates in his letter. The first, regarding the highly contested elementary program review, said conversations remain ongoing with the Ministry of Education, but he assured parents that “no students will be required to move schools for the 2025–2026 school year.”

Second, Plamondon said the board will be reinstating final exams for students in grades 9 and 10 starting this September.

“Although the OCDSB has had final evaluations in grades 9 and 10, those evaluations have not included a final exam, which will better prepare them for more consequential evaluations in grades 11 and 12,” he said. “Following a review of our Student Success Days and feedback from teachers and parents, I have directed staff to reintroduce exams or summative assessments in grades 9 and 10, beginning in September 2025. This practice will ensure students are prepared for their next courses or post-secondary pursuits.”

Finally, Plamondon said the board should remain open and responsive to students, their families, and the community, despite elected trustees being stripped of their decision-making authority.

“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 wrote, adding parents and guardians can contact him directly.

It’s not known how long Plamondon will remain as supervisor of the OCDSB. Education Minister Paul Calandra has said Palmondon will have “whatever time is needed” in order to bring the budget back into balance and “put them (the OCDSB) on a sustainable course to financial stability for years to come.”

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