The York Catholic District School Board, which runs the Catholic elementary and secondary schools Markham families attend, has made its case to Ontario's education minister that it can repair its finances and its governance without being placed under provincial supervision.
Trustees and senior staff presented the board's response at a special meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the board's Aurora offices. The meeting was also streamed online. The board posted the presentation and a joint statement from chair Maria Iafrate and interim director of education Jennifer Sarna the next day.
Two weeks to make a case
The meeting came 13 days after Education Minister Paul Calandra, who is also the MPP for Markham-Stouffville, put the board on notice. On Jan. 28, the same day he took direct control of the Peel District School Board, Calandra said York Catholic had two weeks to argue against a supervisor being sent in. He pointed to the board's use of reserves, its financial decisions and its leadership.
I'm taking immediate action to put an end to mismanagement and disruption at two school boards that are directly and negatively impacting both students and teachers.
— Paul Calandra, Ontario Minister of Education, in a Jan. 28 statement
In announcing the move, the ministry said years of inadequate financial management had depleted the board's reserves. It also cited high-risk assumptions in the board's financial recovery plan, “an alarming revolving door in leadership” and ongoing governance issues, and Calandra said infighting and disruption at the board had to end.
The board's answer
In their statement, Sarna said the board took the minister's notice seriously but disagreed with his conclusion, pointing to students' results on provincial tests and the board's graduation rate.
But supervision isn't necessary.
— Jennifer Sarna, interim director of education
On finances, the board presented an update on its multi-year financial recovery plan, prepared by its finance staff. According to the presentation, the plan submitted to the ministry in August 2025 stays in place. It aims to balance the board's annual budget in 2026-27 and to pay off its accumulated deficit by 2030-31. Staff reported the board is on track for $7.6 million in net savings this school year and an early estimate of $9.4 million in 2026-27. They also listed back-up measures for later years, including the possible sale of surplus property, which would need ministry approval.
It will take time to complete this work. But we already have a financial recovery plan that our CFO is confident that it will meet the government's timelines, including contingencies to mitigate risks.
— Jennifer Sarna, interim director of education
On leadership, Iafrate acknowledged the turnover in the director's office but said Sarna, who has nearly 35 years with the board, has the confidence of trustees. She said trustees will complete additional governance training before the end of June. It will cover their roles, financial oversight and decision-making, using resources from the Ontario Education Services Corporation, the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association and the Archdiocese of Toronto.
What happens next
The decision now rests with the minister. If he appoints a supervisor, trustees are sidelined and lose their pay while the supervisor runs the board. The board has said day-to-day operations in its schools continue as usual.
