The Ontario government has taken control of the Peel District School Board, appointing a provincial supervisor to oversee its operations and decision-making.
Paul Calandra announced Thursday that the move effectively removes authority from the board’s elected trustees.
The Peel District School Board operates 262 schools and serves more than 148,000 students across Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon, making it one of the largest school systems in Canada.
Calandra said the province stepped in after determining the board was unable to resolve ongoing governance and financial challenges.
“After careful review, it is clear that both Peel and York Catholic are facing serious challenges that they cannot resolve on their own,” he said.
The province has also appointed a supervisor to oversee the York Catholic District School Board.
According to the Ministry of Education, the intervention follows concerns about internal conflict and long-term financial instability that could disrupt learning and negatively impact student outcomes.
Supervisor Appointed to Run Peel Board
The province has appointed Heather Watt as supervisor for the Peel board.
Watt brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors, and will now take over decision-making responsibilities previously held by elected trustees.
Earlier this year, the government had already placed the Peel board under provisional supervision in January to prevent a mid-year staffing change that the minister said could have created uncertainty for parents, students and educators.
The latest decision confirms the province believes the situation has not improved enough to return authority to the trustees.
Province Says Move Will Restore Stability
The Ontario government says the goal is to restore sound management and ensure that funding is focused on student success.
“These actions will help the province restore sound financial management at these boards and ensure that every dollar invested is preparing students with practical skills for good-paying, stable careers,” the Ministry of Education said in a statement.
The move also means that both major school boards serving Peel Region are now under provincial supervision.
In June last year, the government placed the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board under provincial control, citing financial mismanagement.
With both boards now overseen by provincial supervisors, the Ontario government says it will continue working to stabilize governance and ensure consistent educational outcomes for students across the region.