Trustees learned how much they need to trim on Tuesday, but are still in the dark about potential targets. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.
Trustees at Ottawa’s largest school board learned Tuesday that they will have to cut $20 million from their $1.2 billion 2025-26 budget.
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board trustees were told last month that the board faced “painful” decisions about cuts. But trustees are still in the dark about what areas are most likely to be targeted for cuts.
There have been four deficit budgets in a row for the OCDSB. The board used up surplus funds to finance previous deficit budgets in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and had an unexpected deficit last year. The board still owes the province $11.1 million from last year’s deficit, and faces an unexpected $4.2-million shortfall this year.
Meanwhile, the clock is ticking toward a March 25 deadline to decide on academic staffing to meet contractual obligations.
But the board won’t know until later how much money it will be getting in provincial funding. That’s not expected to increase, given that enrolment numbers have barely budged.
Some trustees expressed frustration that they had so little information in front of them on Tuesday night.
“We have no documents to prepare from, and that’s going to make this conversation significantly more difficult,” said Trustee Lyra Evans.
Trustee Cathryne Milburn said she wanted to know how much “wiggle room” was available for cuts.
“It’s difficult to have a productive discussion without having any materials provided in advance,” she said.
The number of required teacher positions is generated by a provincial formula and is tied directly to ministry guidelines on enrolment, class size and collective agreement requirements, general manager of employee services Barry Scott told trustees. The budget will maintain the staffing complements that are protected under provincial policies and collective agreements.
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Some provincial funding for staffing, such as money for early reader screening, is protected and can’t be used for other purposes. Other staffing, including English as a Second Language, is considered discretionary, said Scott.
The staffing plan to be completed by the end of Match will be based on a number of principles, including strategic priorities such as improving student learning and well-being, maintaining core services and supports for students at risk, including those traditionally underserved and students with the highest needs, said Scott.
“We’re not looking to cut one big chunk out of the budget,” said Randy Gerrior, the OCDSB’s associate director for business.
However, there are too many unknowns at this time, including the outcome of the provincial election, and how that might affect funding, he said.
Administration is one of the first places to consider. “But a corporation of $1.2 billion. requires administration to function, and so it’s no easy place to find $20 million,” said Gerrior.
The parameters around funding can be complicated, he told trustees. For example, the OCDSB gets about $50 million for school transportation. If the board decides not to put school buses and vans on the road, that would create a one-time surplus. But it wouldn’t last, said Gerror.
“Next year, the Ministry of Education wouldn’t give the school board money for transportation, because it is not being spent on transportation.”
Some trustees expressed concerns that initiatives to address inequities in the system will be among the targets of cuts.
“The number one thing that I am concerned about is equity, specifically equity of outcome,” said Trustee Lyra. “If we have to pick one place above any other to make sure the cuts do no land, I would strongly encourage staff and the board to make sure it is the poverty work that we do and the work on students from low-income neighbourhoods.”
The budget squeeze is only one of two initiatives that could result in upheavals for some students and their families. The other is a sweeping elementary program review that proposes significant tweaks to elementary programs, including changes to French immersion and phasing out alternative schools and some programs for children with special needs.
There is a perception that the goal of the elementary review is to save money, said Milburn.
Director of education Pino Buffone said he wanted to emphasize that the elementary review runs parallel to the budget exercise. Decisions about the review will be implemented starting in September 2026. The budget is tackling the school year that starts in September 2025, he said.
“I want to make it very clear (the review) is an infrastructural reorganization of how we do our work. (The budget) is not the impetus, nor the driver nor the genesis of the program review.”
The OCDSB is not alone in facing budget pressures, said Gerrior.
He said he has spoken to counterparts at other boards and 53 out of 72 are in a deficit position. The difference is that some of these other boards have an accumulated surplus they can spend.
“They’re not in the exact same situation we’re in — but they will be.”
The budget committee is to meet again on March 18 and the decisions it makes are scheduled to be before the board on March 25.
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