Parents Split Over New Support Office in Ottawa-Carleton Schools

Parents within the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) are expressing mixed reactions to a new provincial mandate requiring the establishment of a “student and family support” office. This initiative, set to launch in January 2024, aims to address concerns related to children’s education. The announcement was made on Thursday, but details about the office remain sparse, leaving many parents uncertain about its implications.

Some parents, like Kate Dudley-Logue, who has two children in the OCDSB, are doubtful about the effectiveness of the new office. She raised concerns about the qualifications of the staff who will operate the office, questioning their familiarity with local school boards. “Are these people going to know much about their local school boards?” she asked, pointing out that elected trustees have a deeper understanding of their communities and schools.

According to a news release from the province, the initiative intends to enhance accountability within school boards. Yet, Sachin Maharaj, an assistant professor of educational leadership policy and program evaluation at the University of Ottawa, criticized the approach. “It seems like the government is trying to address the problems of parents getting lost in the education bureaucracy by creating more bureaucracy,” he stated. Previously, local school trustees were responsible for advocating on behalf of parents and addressing their concerns.

Mixed Reactions from Parents

While some parents express skepticism, others are more optimistic about the new office. Shannon Worek, another OCDSB parent, believes that the support office could lead to better communication and responsiveness compared to previous experiences with trustees. “You didn’t always have a consistent response from different trustees,” she noted. Worek suggested that the support office could help identify and address concerns that span multiple schools in the district.

Financial implications of the new mandate are also a point of contention. Concerns have been raised regarding the province’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, especially in light of Education Minister Paul Calandra‘s previous remarks on financial mismanagement within school boards. The OCDSB has experienced four consecutive years of financial deficits, and the province anticipates a fifth in the current year.

In June 2023, Robert Plamondon was appointed the provincially designated supervisor for the OCDSB, a move intended to prioritize direct support for students. With the board currently under provincial supervision, trustees have no formal role, which traditionally involved overseeing the director of education and setting policies.

Concerns About Financial Viability

Trustees have voiced concerns about the financial feasibility of the new support office. Donna Blackburn, the trustee for Barrhaven, pointed out that elected trustees are compensated below minimum wage for their roles. “Obviously, those people [in the new office] will be making a lot more than minimum wage,” she said, implying that the funding for the office could strain already limited resources.

Calandra has stated that the support offices are part of a broader strategy to reform what he describes as an “outdated school board governance model.” Earlier, he indicated to CBC that he is open to the possibility of eliminating school board trustees altogether in the province. For Blackburn, this recent mandate suggests a shift toward diminishing the role of trustees. “Sadly, I think the writing is on the wall,” she remarked.

As the January launch date approaches, parents and officials will continue to monitor the developments surrounding the new support office. The initiative promises to create a structured response to parental concerns, but its success will depend on effective implementation and communication within the school board.