Pino Buffone, the director of education for Ottawa's largest school board, has departed his position effective immediately while the district remains under provincial supervision.
Sudden Departure Under Provincial Supervision
In an email sent to staff, supervisor Bob Plamondon announced that Pino Buffone is departing "effective immediately" from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. The board has been operating under provincial supervision since June, adding significance to this leadership change.
Plamondon encouraged staff to join him in "extending best wishes to Pino for continued success in his future endeavours." The announcement comes at a critical time for the school board as it navigates ongoing challenges.
Career Trajectory and Leadership Role
Buffone's educational career spanned multiple roles within the OCDSB system, beginning as a teacher and advancing through positions as vice-principal, principal, and superintendent. His experience provided him with comprehensive understanding of the district's operations before assuming leadership roles.
After serving as director of education at the Renfrew County District School Board starting in 2017, Buffone returned to OCDSB as director of education in August 2023. His appointment was seen as bringing experienced leadership back to Ottawa's largest school district.
Controversial Elementary Program Review
During his tenure, Buffone spearheaded the contentious elementary program review, addressing long-standing concerns about educational inequities across OCDSB schools. The review aimed to tackle problems created by French immersion programs drawing students away from community schools.
In April 2024, Buffone explained to trustees that "the number of programs and where they are located has resulted in a patchwork of school configurations" creating significant disparities between schools. The district faced situations where elementary schools ranged from over 900 students to fewer than 200, creating inequitable learning environments.
The review proposed returning more students to neighborhood schools and offering both French immersion and English programs in as many schools as possible. The goals included balancing school populations, ensuring all elementary schools remained viable, reducing busing requirements, and minimizing portable classroom use.
Parental Concerns and Recent Developments
The proposed changes generated significant opposition from parents, particularly those within urban boundaries who raised concerns about siblings being separated and increased travel distances for some students. The situation was complicated by the proximity of some schools—less than a kilometer apart—while operating at different capacity levels.
Last month, supervisor Bob Plamondon announced that no child would need to change schools next September, though elementary school boundaries might eventually require adjustment. Plamondon characterized the originally proposed elementary program review as potentially "chaotic" in a written Q&A for parents.
Stacey Kay, previously general manager of Learning Support Services at OCDSB, has been appointed as the new director of education effective immediately. Kay brings experience in special education and advancing inclusive, student-centered programs across the district.
The leadership transition occurs while the school board continues to address complex challenges of enrollment balancing, program equity, and community concerns about proposed changes to elementary school configurations and boundaries.
