The decision to delay the elimination of middle French immersion at Ottawa’s largest school board, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), has been announced to parents by Robert Plamondon, the provincially appointed supervisor. Concerns raised by parents about the potential disadvantage to younger students prompted the postponement of the phase-out. The program will now be discontinued after 2028, allowing current students in grades 1-3 to continue enrollment.
Last year, the board had outlined a plan to phase out early and middle French immersion. Children completing bilingual kindergarten would have had the option to switch to the English stream or begin French immersion in grades 1, 2, or 3. Despite canceling a broader restructuring of the OCDSB’s elementary program in October, the decision to phase out middle French immersion had remained in place.
Middle French immersion is currently offered in 33 out of the board’s 120 elementary schools, catering to approximately four percent of the student population. Enrollment in the program has decreased by over 25% in the past five years, according to board data.
Additionally, the email update from Plamondon included information about the opening of the new student and family support office at the OCDSB. This office serves as a platform for parents to address educational concerns now that OCDSB trustees have been sidelined. Stacey Kay, the board’s director of education, stated that parents can contact the office online after first raising concerns with the child’s teacher and, if needed, with the school principal and superintendent.
The establishment of the student and family support office has raised concerns among some, including OCDSB trustee Lyra Evans, who believes the prescribed process could be time-consuming for families with urgent issues. Sachin Maharaj, an assistant professor at the University of Ottawa, views this office as a potential step towards the province’s goal of permanently eliminating elected school board trustees. Education Minister Paul Calandra is expected to provide clarity on the fate of elected boards in the coming months.
Plamondon expressed growing confidence in addressing the OCDSB’s deficit and is actively working on formulating a balanced budget for the upcoming 2026-27 school year.