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CBC
6 days ago
- Business
- CBC
The province took over London's largest school board to curb spending. Here's the budget plan
A budget report released by the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) lays out a dire financial situation defined by a projected budget deficit that's almost double what was originally predicted for this school year. The report, released Monday, also includes a new plan for the region's largest school board to dig itself out of its financial reality in the upcoming years. What's unique about this budget is that it was drafted with the oversight a provincial supervisor appointed to take over operations, and is being implemented without publicly elected trustee input. CBC News requested an interview with supervisor Paul Boniferro Monday, and multiple times since he was appointed in April, but none has been granted. The size of the deficit This latest budget report predicts the deficit for the 2024-25 fiscal year, which at last count was projected at $16.8 million, will actually rise to almost $32 million by the end of August. The preliminary budget for the next fiscal year aims to cut the deficit to $10.6 million. Provincial rules state school board deficits cannot be more than one per cent of their budgets, or roughly $12 million for the TVDSB. "TVDSB is in a structural deficit position – a result of an imbalance in revenue and expenditures, as opposed to an imbalance based on one-off or short-term factors," the report reads. "As such, difficult decisions and prioritization of resources are required." Boniferro took control of the TVDSB after a 10-month long external audit found financial mismanagement, including a spending scandal involving a pricey retreat for upper management. It was the first school board in Ontario to lose control, with supervisors currently overseeing the Toronto District School Board, the Toronto Catholic District School Board, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board. How London's public board will save The preliminary budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year seeks to save money through a number of avenues, including spending on employees. The report outlines cutting $7 million on salaries and benefits, with a total expected decrease in operating expenses of $9.6 million. The budget for next fiscal year lays out total reductions in its full-time staffing equivalent, which includes part-time jobs, of roughly 115 full-time positions. Just shy of 47 of those positions are teachers, staff in library and guidance, and learning support teachers. Eighteen positions are early childhood educator positions and two are educational assistant positions. Additionally, 14.5 of the positions are in board administration and governance. A large number of the expected staffing reductions are attributed to a projected drop in enrolment. The report also makes mention of "future property sales" that "will help achieve some amount" of a future surplus, but doesn't elaborate on the nature of those property sales, or include information on which properties are being sold. In late May, interim director of education Bill Tucker sent a memo to staff warning of cuts. In March, almost 60 positions were declared surplus, meaning those employees would be put on a leave of absence until their services were needed. The report says the TVDSB "remains committed to prioritizing reductions that minimize impacts in the classroom," with much of the focus on measures that "do not compromise the quality of education and the learning environment." Education minister 'disappointed' CBC News requested an interview with Tucker on Monday but was directed to the province for comment. The Minister of Education said in a statement that he's disappointed the TVDSB is projecting such a large deficit for this school year. "This reaffirms just how profoundly trustees failed in their duty to manage public funds and why it was necessary to place the board under supervision," Paul Calandra's statement said. "It also underscores the need for the ministry to have a more proactive role in the management of school boards across the province."
CTV News
12-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
TVDSB offering mental health supports this summer
Thames Valley District School Board headquarters 1250 Dundas St. seen on May 16, 2025. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London) The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is shining a light on mental health and wellness by offering support programs over the summer. The board is hosting drop-in mental health clinics for students and caregivers they're calling 'Wellness Wednesdays.' No appointments are needed, and these clinics offer single-session counselling offered by school counselling and social work staff. TVDSB is also offering pop-up developmental screening clinics for early years students. Parents and caregivers can use these clinics to gather information related to certain developmental domains, such as communication, motor skills, social skills, and more. More information, including scheduled for these clinics, can be found online.
CTV News
17-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Thames Valley School District School Board cuts dozens of jobs at board office
The director of education for the Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) has confirmed dozens of layoffs at the board. This time, no teaching jobs are affected, rather, the cuts are among administrative ranks. Bill Tucker tells CTV News that 42 full time jobs at the central board office, including some in senior administration, have been cut. While some job cuts have already taken effect, others will roll out over the next few months and into the next school year. In a written statement to CTV News, the board says it's 'implementing a series of staffing adjustments at the central board offices as part of its ongoing financial recovery efforts.' The board says the 'adjustments' will result in about $4.7 million in salaries and benefits. 'They reflect careful planning to align our operations with financial realities while continuing to prioritize classrooms and students,' said the statement. A school board audit, completed in April, revealed a deficit of $17.3 million in 2023-24. The board is being overseen by a provincially appointed supervisor, following the spring audit. Paul Bonifferro oversees all financial and operational decisions. According to the Ministry of Education, Boniferro represents the ministry's vested control, overseeing and managing the administration of the board.
CBC
28-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Expect 'uncertainty and angst', says TVDSB interim leader to teachers
Social Sharing Southwestern Ontario's largest school board is working toward balancing its finances with staff now aware that it will cost some people their jobs. Employees received an email from the Thames Valley District School Board's (TVDSB) interim Education Director Bill Tucker on Tuesday that CBC News has obtained. It provides an update on the financial recovery plan that is being led by a provincially appointed supervisor, labour and employment lawyer Paul Boniferro. Tucker wrote that Boniferro's mandate to balance the TVDSB's budget, and leave it with a 2 per cent reserve fund, will mean major restructuring decisions. "Uncertainty and angst about one's employment and job description will be present throughout the entire system," Tucker wrote. The decision to have Boniferro take control of London's public school board and pause the role of its elected trustees came after the province conducted a review last fall in the wake of a $40,000 staff retreat. The review wrapped up in April and the final report showed instances of mismanagement, including promotions and executive pay raises without trustee approval, as well as a nearly $17 million deficit. Tucker said Tuesday that Boniferro will be in the role until at least the next school year, and trustees will continue to have no input into decisions. CBC News has made multiple requests to speak to Boniferro but has not received any response. 'We're talking livelihoods' Tucker said that Boniferro is currently vetting all open job postings within the school board suggesting cuts are coming. He noted some positions are funded by Ministry of Education grants and are required to be filled. He called this the "first step of a bigger picture that will become much clearer as time goes on." Tucker admitted he knows they are not "just talking about jobs." "We are talking about livelihoods, family incomes and in many cases financial security for homes," he wrote. "We are talking about people." He said the hope is to make affected employee groups aware in a timely manner and deliver news personally. The Minister of Education Paul Calandra declined an interview with CBC News. In a statement, spokesperson Emma Testani said the board needs to focus on administrative savings. "Core education funding should go towards supporting teachers and students in the classroom," Testani said. While Tucker expressed his regret to staff the decisions the board needs to make, he stressed that they need to do what is best for TVDSB. "I am also sad as I write this memo to everyone. But we must keep our eye on what is best for the Board because at the end of the day, what is best for the Board will translate into good things happening for students."
CBC
19-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Audit shows how promotions and pay bumps contributed to TVDSB's $16M deficit
Social Sharing An investigation into the Thames Valley District School Board's finances found instances of mismanagement, including promotions and executive pay raises without trustee approval. The audit into southwestern Ontario's largest school board was done by Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) over the course of 10 month, finishing in mid-April. It was quietly posted to the province's website. The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) currently faces a $16-million deficit. In April, shortly after the audit was finished, the province appointed a supervisor to oversee the board, and took authority away from trustees. Those decisions were made after it was discovered that senior administrators spent $40,000 on a retreat to Toronto last fall. The director of education, Mark Fisher, resigned six months later and numerous senior executives remain on paid leave. PWC's 142-page audit details how TVDSB didn't comply with its own compensation rules that would become the "underlying reasons for its deteriorating financial position." It identified a total of seven instances of non-compliance, including two where the board didn't abide by its own policies and procedures, and five violations of the Ministry of Education's approved compensation rules for senior administration. The report found Fisher promoted the board's General Counsel, Ali Chahbar into a superintendent role, without the board's approval during the 2022-23 school year. The position came with a $24,000 pay upgrade. In July 2024, Fisher promoted a superintendent to an associate director of education position with a $40,000 salary bump, again without board approval. The individual returned to a superintendent role a few months later in October but continued to ear $239,000, due to a clause in the contract. The superintendent is not named in the report, however, CBC has previously reported that superintendent Andrew Canham was an associate director during that time. He is on a paid leave. Chahbar also resigned as chair of the London Police Service Board earlier this month, citing health reasons. Wages for the director of education, superintendent, and executive officer roles rose by 8.8 per cent, 27.9 per cent and 17.9 per cent, respectively, the audit found. COVID costs Other infractions included two new executive hires who were paid more than they should have been, the audit concluded. When the pandemic hit, Fisher, superintendents and executive officers received a 10 per cent stipend for the increased scope of their work, despite a prohibition on new compensation elements at the time. "These stipends ranged between $15,526 to $23,950 annually, per executive, for a period of 20 months," the report said, adding trustees approved the stipend after seeking externa legal advice. TVDSB went from having a $3.5 million surplus in 2020-21 to an in-year deficit of $17.32 million in 2023-24, the report said. The board's financial situation is expected to improve in the 2024-25 school year as the deficit drops to $16.8 million, it added. 'There needs to be a refocus' union head says Craig Smith, president of the Thames Valley local of the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), said this audit should serve as a lesson in rethinking priorities that put the focus on supporting students and teachers. "I think we've drifted a bit away from that and we need to use this as an opportunity," Smith said Monday. "This isn't just one trip to Toronto that caused this. This has been a situation that's been in the making for a number of years. I think as tough as it's going to be for the next year or two for the, board, it's very critical that it happens and it happens right." Staff absenteeism a problem The audit also found the board's deficit was not made any better by the high level of staff absenteeism that led to higher costs for supply staff. PWC also noted the over-projected enrolment rates that resulted in $3.5 million excess spending for teachers in 2023-24 and $2.4 million in 2024-25. The audit also found increased spending on technology and cybersecurity initiatives. "The board was unable to adjust its expenses promptly when the financial pressures became apparent during the revised estimates period and later in the year," the report said. "Consequently, TVDSB had hired additional teachers and incurred other expenses that could not be retracted due to contractual obligations. To mitigate this in the future, TVDSB plans to adopt a more conservative approach to enrolment forecasting, relying on actual registrations without upward adjustments for development or migration." Report finds cost-cutting measures The board has already implemented cost cutting measures to reduce the 2024-25 deficit between $15.9 million to $13.7 million, depending on their success. These include: a reduction in bus monitoring staff procurement savings educational assistant return-to-work programs transitioning from in-person to online summer school merging schools reviewing the door-to-door transportation model ending Beal's transportation program While it's important to make certain cuts, they shouldn't be made just for the sake of saving money, Smith said, adding that the board instead needs to look at how these cuts are impacting services for students. "There's also the management culture of the board, it's very top-heavy in terms of administration and that needs to be looked at seriously because there are fixed costs the board can't avoid, but there are some things they need to do."
