Ontario places Peel school board under supervision, gives York Catholic 14 days to avert takeover

Ontario’s education minister has placed the Peel District School Board under provincial supervision, saying the move is meant to prevent mid-year layoffs that could disrupt classrooms, while giving the York Catholic District School Board two weeks to show why it should not face the same action.

Education Minister Paul Calandra said the Peel board was preparing to lay off 60 teachers, a decision he said would have affected about 1,400 students through classroom changes and staffing reshuffles partway through the school year.

Reports say Peel has been given two weeks to respond to the province’s concerns, after which the minister will decide whether to end supervision or continue it and appoint a supervisor with broader authority.

On York Catholic, the province said the board has been warned it could be placed under supervision if it does not adequately address governance and financial concerns within 14 days, citing depleted reserves and the absence of a credible financial recovery plan.

A message posted through York Catholic channels said the board is working on a plan to respond to the minister’s request on governance and financial management within the specified timeline.

The move has drawn criticism from education stakeholders and opposition voices who argue that sidelining elected trustees erodes local democratic accountability, while the government maintains tighter oversight is necessary when boards veer off course and student outcomes are at risk.

The developments also follow recent legislative changes that broaden the minister’s oversight powers, including the ability to launch investigations, issue binding directions, or place boards under supervision on financial or non-financial public-interest grounds.