OCDSB Supervisor Makes Tough Cuts to Address Budget Shortfall
Bob Plamondon, the provincially-appointed supervisor overseeing the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), has implemented significant cost-cutting measures aimed at bringing the board's finances under control. In a recent address to the Special Education Advisory Committee, Plamondon revealed he cancelled a keynote speaker contract that would have cost approximately the same as an education assistant's annual salary for just one hour of speaking time.
Questioning Spending Priorities
Plamondon explained his decision-making process when he discovered the planned keynote speech for a system leaders meeting involving superintendents and principals. "When I talk to principals and ask about the support they get from the district, I said 'If you had a choice between getting this offering or an EA, what would you pick?' Ten times out of 10, it's an EA," Plamondon told committee members during the February 4 meeting.
The supervisor, who does not typically grant media interviews, did not identify the specific speaker or provide additional details about the cancelled event. However, he emphasized that such spending decisions reflect broader questions about resource allocation within the education system.
Ending Competitive Advertising Practices
In another significant move, Plamondon announced the termination of the OCDSB's paid advertising program designed to attract students away from other school boards. This initiative had been costing the board hundreds of thousands of dollars annually.
"I fundamentally question the premise and practice of using public money for one public institution to compete against another, using resources that would otherwise be dedicated to the classroom," Plamondon stated.
He argued that principals serving as frontline ambassadors represent a more effective and cost-efficient approach to student recruitment. "Our best ambassadors for attracting students to our district are principals who are on the front line, who meet with parents who are making inquiries about which school board they should go to," he explained.
Addressing Financial Challenges
The budget cuts come as the OCDSB faces substantial financial pressures, including a $14.4-million shortfall for special education in the current school year. Staffing costs alone have increased by more than $3 million, contributing significantly to the deficit.
Plamondon, who assumed control of the board in June 2023 after the elected trustees' decision-making authority was suspended, has been meeting regularly with volunteer committees as mandated by the province. During these sessions, he has outlined his approach to financial management.
On Monday, Plamondon announced plans to introduce a "student-focused resource optimization" project during the upcoming budget process. His stated goal extends beyond simply balancing the budget to creating opportunities for increased investment in classroom resources.
Looking to Other Districts for Solutions
Plamondon revealed that part of his strategy involves examining practices in other school districts that have successfully navigated similar financial challenges. "Other districts have figured out ways to navigate the system so that they end up with more money through the provincial funding formula," he noted.
The supervisor emphasized his commitment to maximizing available resources while advocating for necessary changes to funding structures. "We want to make sure we're making the best use of the formula that is out there. And, in certain cases, to advocate for changes in the funding formula where it comes to special education," Plamondon concluded.
These recent decisions represent the first concrete steps in Plamondon's broader effort to address the OCDSB's financial challenges while maintaining focus on student needs and classroom resources.
