Ottawa public school board supervisor vows to ‘transform’ how board operates

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board office on Greenbank Road in Ottawa. (CTV News Ottawa)

The supervisor overseeing Ottawa’s largest school board is introducing a “Student-Focused Resource Optimization” project, saying this year’s budget process will be about “transforming how we operate so we can better serve students.”

The Ontario government appointed Robert Plamondon as supervisor of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) last June after the board posted four straight deficit budgets. The board ran a $5.4 million deficit during the 2024-25 school year.

In a letter to parents and guardians Monday evening, Plamondon said the budget process for the 2026-27 school year will be “unlike any the board has undertaken before,” that will focus on ”long overdue” reforms within the school board.

“It is not about simply trimming expenses, but about transforming how we operate so we can better serve students,” Plamondon said.

He says he is working with new OCDSB Director of Education Stacey Kay to advance the new “Student-Focused Resource Optimization” project in parallel with the board’s annual budget.

“This initiative moves well beyond simple budget trimming with an overarching goal of ensuring that every dollar and service directly supports the classroom,” Plamondon said.

“To build a budget that meets this goal, we are evaluating all of our resources and structures to gauge their impact on student achievement and well-being. Through this process, we will streamline board administration to remain firmly student focused.

“We are not simply balancing the budget; we are building a more sustainable and unified district for our students.”

In November, Plamondon told parents the board was conducting a “comprehensive line-by-line review of all board spending to achieve a balanced budget.” The board was also conducting a “comprehensive review” of all OCDSB properties, according to the supervisor.

Plamondon says the OCDSB has faced “significant challenges,” including enrolment pressures, financial deficits, “declining staff morale, and other distractions.”

“In some areas, spending is not sufficiently student-driven. The board office has been structured in ways that blur responsibilities and weaken accountability. Oversight of both finances and board assets has also not been as strong as it must be,” Plamondon wrote.

“The fiscal situation aside, these reforms are long overdue. They will, however, play an important role in restoring a balanced budget and improving student outcomes.”

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