鈥淭hey are the first point of contact for a supervisory officer,鈥 said a source who spoke on condition of anonymity. 鈥淭hey also manage their portfolios and are highly skilled.鈥
The job cuts follow a 10-week audit completed in April, which found the board鈥檚 financial position declined from a $3.5-million surplus in 2020-21 to an in-year deficit of $17.3 million in 2023-24.
Cost-saving measures, including job cuts and restructuring, are expected to shrink the board鈥檚 projected 2024-25 deficit from $16.8 million to a range between $13.7 million and $15.9 million, according to the audit report. The board鈥檚 annual budget is approximately $1.2 billion.
The audit鈥檚 findings led the Ministry of Education to appoint supervisor Paul Boniferro to oversee the board.
The review came after The Free Press reported last year that 18 senior administrators had stayed at the Marriott City Centre Hotel 鈥 formerly the SkyDome Hotel 鈥 where hotel staff said rooms cost between $374 and $1,200 a night. The Toronto Blue Jays played the Cincinnati Reds at the stadium on all three days of the retreat.