Board facing $7.6-million budget deficit for 2024-25 budget
Ontario’s Ministry of Education will launch an investigation into the financial operations of a school board in the province following a three-day planning retreat that cost nearly $40,000.
Overall, the retreat in Toronto last month cost the board $38,444.92, covering transportation, meeting spaces, food and accommodation for 18 top administrators who stayed at the Marriott City Centre Hotel located inside the Rogers Centre from Aug. 19 to 21, according to CBC.
Beth Mai, the Thames Valley District School Board’s (TVDSB) chair and interim director, said that the board released the cost of their off-site retreat to maintain “transparency and accountability,” according to a Global News report. TVDSB is one of the largest school boards in London, Ont.
An Ontario hospital is also under investigation for alleged financial irregularities.
Criticism of $38,000 retreat
CUPE Local 4222, which represents early childhood workers in London, criticized TVDSB for spending such an amount for the trip.
“It is a lot of money. It’s actually more than what one of our members would make in an entire year,” union president Mary Henry said about the spending, which comes as the board is facing a $7.6-million deficit for the 2024-25 budget, according to the Global News report.
“We’ve been in a staffing crisis on all levels of the board for quite a few years. Everybody is stretched thin. The resources that are usually provided to the students have been clawed back a little bit by a little bit,” she said.
The office of Ontario's education minister also disapproved of the spending.
"When our government is making the largest investment in public education in the province's history, we expect school boards to get that funding into classrooms to increase supports for students and better equip teachers," wrote Education Minister Jill Dunlop’s spokesperson Edyta McKay on Aug. 29, according to CBC.
"That means showing parents, teachers and community members that the school board can be a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars – something this retreat has brought into question."
Board welcomes ‘accountability and transparency’
Meanwhile, TVDSB is welcoming the audit that will be conducted by the Ontario government.
“The Thames Valley District School Board is pleased that the Ministry of Education is willing to lend their support and conduct an audit of accounts,” said Mai in a statement. “The board has every confidence that interim director Bill Tucker will share the work that he is leading at the board’s direction around accountability and transparency to the community as we prioritize student achievement and well-being.”
The board also said that it is reviewing and making changes to expense policies and procedures through the appropriate process to align with the motion passed by the board, according to the Global News report.
“This has been a learning experience for the TVDSB and will not happen again,” according to the board.
