Paul Calandra

Calandra supports cutting trustees’ roles and numbers, limiting trustees’ discretionary expenses and capping honorariums, to reduce distractions and disruption in school boards and refocus trustees on advocating for parents; he tabled legislation enacting these changes.

Paul Calandra supports curtailing trustees' power—cutting trustee numbers, reducing budget authority and removing much of their role in central bargaining—arguing these steps will stop disruptions and refocus trustees on advocating for parents; he has tabled legislation and supervised boards.

Calandra supports tightening oversight and accountability to eliminate school-board deficits: introducing legislation to limit trustees, impose expense and salary caps, shift local bargaining to CEOs, and keep boards under provincial supervision until they achieve balanced budgets.

Calandra prioritized restoring school boards’ focus on student success and stability, taking direct control and appointing supervisors to rebuild trust and realign operations—implying oversight and tighter spending priorities to ensure resources support the core mission of student success.

Paul Calandra supports provincial spending on school infrastructure, prioritizing investment in expansions to provide resources and inspiring learning environments that prepare students for future jobs and academic achievement; he says the government will continue to provide necessary educational resources.

Calandra emphasizes prioritizing classroom spending and fiscal oversight: he has put boards on notice to direct funds to classrooms, supports provincial supervision (even eliminating trustees), and says he "will not hesitate to step in when school boards fail to stay on track."

Calandra says he intervened to prevent midyear layoffs and chaotic reorganization tied to a budget shortfall, demands a fiscally sustainable financial-recovery plan, and placed the board under supervision to restore fiscal sustainability and stop ongoing financial mismanagement.

Calandra supports increasing practical in-class experience for prospective teachers, signaling teacher-certification changes that will add more practicum time. He is considering shortening teachers' college while ensuring student teachers spend additional time in classrooms, with announcements expected early next year.

He blames OCDSB trustees for the deficit, accusing them of mismanaging funds—budgeting $1.3 million for honoraria/support services and spending over $200,000 on internal infighting—rather than focusing on balancing the board’s budget, justifying provincial intervention.

Paul Calandra supports empowering the education minister to investigate and place school boards under provincial supervision when boards are failing; he says the minister should be able to step in and take control if school boards "fall off the rails."

Calandra supports mandating 'student and family support offices' in school boards to make the education system more responsive and accessible for families, giving parents a direct way to raise concerns, get help, and find solutions faster.

Calandra insists federal spending must cover a $2‑billion annual shortfall to prevent child-care fee hikes; he welcomed Ottawa's $695‑million top‑up as necessary to maintain $19/day for a year, but says it’s insufficient to lower averages to $10/day.

As Ontario Education Minister, Paul Calandra says the Near North District School Board has deep-rooted dysfunction that has eroded public confidence; he ordered 15 corrective actions, demands immediate fixes to put students first, and warns of further accountability measures.

Calandra insists public education dollars must prioritize student achievement and fiscal accountability; he condemns trustees' lavish spending, demands repayment, and has tabled legislation to remove and bar a trustee to protect integrity in education finances.

Calandra says Ontario cannot meet the federal $10-a-day child-care program as currently set up without additional federal funding; he frames the shortfall as an accounting/funding issue, calls for federal money, and commits to negotiating with Ottawa for certainty.

Paul Calandra blames trustees for school-board budget deficits, asserting many boards could run surpluses under a per-pupil funding model. He says the five provincially controlled boards "refused to make the right decisions" and is considering changing trustees.

Calandra ordered licensed daycare operators to immediately block or remove parking spaces adjacent to entryways, playgrounds, windows and exterior classroom walls, instructing temporary pylons/signage and urging landlords to implement permanent barricades to protect children.

Paul Calandra supports considering school closures or mergers and has taken direct action—temporarily placing the Thames Valley board under ministry control—to reduce financial strain at government-supervised boards and reprioritize resources toward classrooms.

Paul Calandra directs licensed daycares to block parking spaces adjacent to entrances, windows and playgrounds during hours of operation to better safeguard children and child-care providers, urging prompt implementation, temporary barriers, and pursuing permanent solutions and regulatory changes.

Paul Calandra says the board’s budget deficit shows trustees failed to manage public funds, justifying provincial supervision; he asserts the supervisor must restore fiscal responsibility, ensure long-term financial stability, and direct funding into classrooms for students and teachers.

Paul Calandra supports strong provincial control over school boards: he implemented reforms limiting trustees’ powers and pay, kept eight boards under government supervision, and affirmed the ministry’s statutory authority to fill vacancies and maintain supervision until boards are 'back on the right track.'

Paul Calandra directed school boards to prevent graduation ceremonies from expressing political views or engaging in 'divisive or contentious' issues, warning he will use tools under the Education Act to prioritize student well‑being and require staff to meet the same standards as students.

Paul Calandra directed Ontario school boards to allow students to watch Team Canada Olympic hockey games during school hours, saying such 'big games' are opportunities to 'rally together' and cheer on Canada's athletes, framing broadcasts as a way to unite students.

Paul Calandra supports expanding provincial authority over school boards: he has placed multiple boards under provincial supervision, proposed governance reforms to reduce trustees' roles, temporarily named himself supervisor, and says takeovers refocus boards on student achievement and finances.

Calandra supports empowering the province to intervene in and take control of school boards that are failing, saying he will not allow the system to remain the same and will use every power at his disposal to put school boards back on track.