The Ontario government has set aside funds to conduct detailed audits at 10 of the province’s 72 public school boards, says a recent memo sent out to chairs. “To support school boards in driving the modernization and transformation that is essential to achieving fiscal sustainability, the government has established the Audit and Accountability Fund,” says the May 29 missive, obtained by the Star, from Education Minister Lisa Thompson. In a statement, a spokesperson for Thompson said “we are giving school boards and municipalities the tools they need to find savings.” Stephanie Rea also said “we hope school boards take this opportunity, as this support will go toward helping school boards conduct line-by-line reviews of their spending. “I know that boards are working efficiently — every single year, boards are looking for efficiencies wherever we can,” she said. The Toronto District School Board alone is facing a $67.8 million shortfall for the 2019-20 school year, $42 million from provincial cuts.

Source: thestar June 12, 2019 18:22 UTC