Ontario’s education minister orders 15 reforms for the Near North District School Board after a review found dysfunction delaying a new Parry Sound school.
Education Minister Orders 15 Reforms After Near North Board Review
Ontario’s Education Minister Paul Calandra has issued 15 binding directives to the Near North District School Board (NNDSB) after a government review uncovered serious governance problems, including “deep-rooted dysfunction” and “fractured relationships.” The findings follow months of public frustration over the delayed opening of a long-promised new school in Parry Sound.
Governance Failures Spark Ministry Action
The ministry’s review concluded that the NNDSB’s internal divisions and leadership breakdowns have eroded public confidence and disrupted school operations. “The report confirms deep-rooted dysfunction within the Near North District School Board,” Minister Calandra said in a statement.
He added that if the board fails to implement the directives “without delay or excuse,” the province “will not hesitate to take further action to ensure accountability and restore stability.”
How the Controversy Began
The review was ordered after an uproar in August 2025, when parents and students learned—just weeks before school began—that the new $58 million JK-12 Parry Sound school would not open as planned.
Students spent two weeks learning remotely before returning to their old schools, including one building that had been partially demolished. The Ministry said this situation highlighted years of poor communication and mismanagement at the board level.
A Long-Delayed Project
Plans for the new Parry Sound school began in 2014. Architects were hired in 2021, with an original opening target of September 2023. In May 2023, the board quietly postponed the opening to September 2025, issuing no further public update until August 2025—when the delay was announced again.
The review notes that construction site challenges, including a shortage of skilled tradespeople, contributed to the delay but emphasized that governance dysfunction and lack of leadership were primary causes.
Evidence of Persistent Dysfunction
The report outlines a “dysfunctional and divided board” marred by personal agendas and a fractured relationship between trustees and the director of education. One trustee told reviewers that conflict had “snowballed into an avalanche.”
This latest review follows three Ontario Ombudsman investigations since 2019 and the appointment of two special ministry advisors, all probing similar concerns about governance, human resources, and financial accountability at the NNDSB.
Directives to Restore Trust
Minister Calandra’s 15 binding orders give the board 5 to 15 days to act. Key directives include:
- Hiring external experts to improve governance.
- Developing a professional learning plan for trustees and staff.
- Recording and posting all board meetings online.
- Holding mandatory monthly meetings of the Parry Sound Building Committee.
- Creating a community engagement plan to rebuild public trust.
Next Steps and Accountability
The Near North District School Board did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The Ministry has warned that failure to comply with the orders could trigger further intervention, including potential oversight measures.
For parents and educators in Parry Sound, the hope is that these reforms will finally bring stability—and ensure the new school, nearly a decade in the making, opens without further delay.
