TVDSB faces over $20 million deficit amid staff reductions and declining enrolment

By Lee Griffi

The Thames Valley District School Board is facing a $22.1-million deficit as it faces dwindling enrolment and potential job cuts.

The board is proposing to reduce full-time staff by 150 compared to last year. The Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is facing another year of difficult financial decisions with a draft budget forecasting a $22.1-million deficit and more than 150 fewer full-time positions compared with last year’s staffing levels.

The board says the changes are largely driven by declining enrolment and shifting student needs, but education workers warn the reductions will add pressure to already stretched staff.

Among the proposed reductions are nearly 30 early childhood educator positions. The board says those changes are tied to an expected decline in student numbers.

Trustees at the board have been shut out of its operations since April 23, 2025. The province took over and appointed Paul Boniferro as supervisor six days later. Oxford County trustee Dave Cripps said there are a few reasons for the board’s perilous economic picture.

“I’m reasonably sure the deficit is made up of the increase in Canada Pension Plan contributions the federal government implemented a few years ago that the province didn’t fund; our transportation costs because our board is so rural and has been overbudget for a number of years. Unless we stop taking kids to school, there’s no way to fix that.”

He added the third problem area is special education and the monetary problems it has posed.

“Our board of trustees was hugely supportive of it, and I suspect the supervisor has gotten in there and realized there’s not a lot of wiggle room.”

Special education was one of the biggest financial pressures identified in the provincial investigation of the TVDSB. The investigators did not conclude the board was overspending because of mismanagement in special education. Instead, they found the board was providing services beyond what provincial funding covered, resulting in recurring deficits.

The Thames Valley District School Board's special education program has recorded annual deficits ranging from $2 million to $7.7 million since 2020. Staffing accounted for nearly all of the program's costs, with about 96 per cent of special education spending in 2024-2025 going toward salaries and benefits, according to the provincial investigation.

Cripps said there are no other ways for boards of education to generate revenue other than provincial funding. He added the current system sets the board up for failure.

“When there is an increase in payroll the board has no control over, if the province does not fund it, I’m not sure what the expectations are of what the board could do with that. It comes down to looking at the three areas I mentioned and realizing how important they are and funding the proper level.”

Each school board across Ontario is distinctive and has its own unique funding demands, something Cripps said should be taken into account when funding decisions are made.

“It’s not so much about modifying the funding formula, per se, but funding to the relevant areas of importance to each board. There are very large differences between Toronto and Oxford County. There are differences between the Thames Valley board and northern Ontario. There is no one-size-fits-all solution here.”

Mary Henry is president of CUPE Local 4222 and said her members are already overworked due to fewer staff.

“A lot of it has to do with the funding cuts that are not being provided by the Ford government, which is, if you ask me, neglect.”

Despite the cuts, the TVDSB board said the draft budget does include investments in areas where student needs are growing, including 18 additional educational assistants, 12 of those in special education. The board said it is forecasting 2,800 fewer students.

Henry added if the board is attempting to reduce its deficit, they need to examine other areas instead of where students need the most support.

“When you calculate the math, one superintendent’s salary could pay for four or more support staff working directly with students.”

The draft budget is expected to be approved sometime in August. The effect on schools in Oxford County is not yet clear.

The London District Catholic School Board is facing a $3.7-million deficit and is considering a series of spending reductions for the 2026-2027 school year.

Proposed measures include reducing the number of school bus monitors, cutting spending on computers, scaling back professional development opportunities for staff and teachers, and lowering sick-time costs.

The board is also reviewing its special education programs to identify potential efficiencies while maintaining required supports for students.