I’m not answering your question on how our school board does on spending; instead I’d like to point out that Ontario’s ombudsman can’t do any sort of investigating in either our education or health.  This is where 70% of our Ontario tax dollars are spent.  Why haven’t the media or the three parties (conservative, liberal, ndp) ever taken any issue with this? 
Regarding the TDSB’s outrageous expenses coming to light,  I wonder what the director, Chris Spence will say about this disclosure?  As if he didn’t already know!  He and all people responsible for this abuse of public $$ should be fired, but they won’t be.

Bev makes a few excellent points, that got me thinking about the legal duties and obligations of what an education system under the legislated School Acts are charge with..

Across Canada, and it does not matter what part of Canada, the provinces and territories, the education system model is a model legislated under law to deliver a free basic education to one and all students. Key words are basic education, and to which basic education is not defined in the School Acts, and the components of what constitutes a basic education. The provincial education entities are legally charge with is to provide a basic education, and which the laws leaves it up to the education structure to define what is a basic education, via through delivery of education services.

The education and school acts, have had amendments and alternations made over the past 100 years, to reflect the changing values of what constitutes an education. The Ontario Education Act states -  Purpose of education
(2)  The purpose of education is to provide students with the opportunity to realize their potential and develop into highly skilled, knowledgeable, caring citizens who contribute to their society. 2009, c. 25, s. 1.
Partners in education sector
(3)  All partners in the education sector, including the Minister, the Ministry and the boards, have a role to play in enhancing student achievement and well-being, closing gaps in student achievement and maintaining confidence in the province’s publicly funded education systems. 2009, c. 25, s. 1.”
http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_90e02_e.htm#BK2

And the next link - gives a brief rundown on the historical changes that have taken place since 1871 in Ontario.
http://www.slideshare.net/LisaLahey/ontario-education-act-p-p-presentation-3632599

Essentially the Education and School acts are all about the governance of the education structure in order for the education system to fulfilled their main mandate and that is to deliver education services to the public.

The legislation acts of education in any province, where accountability, transparency and what constitutes an education, are defined by the stakeholders of the education system, are purposely vague for a reason. To carry out the legal mandate of the delivery of education services to the public, and where the quality of the education services, accountability, and transparency is whatever the stakeholders within the governance structure wants it to be.

The Toronto School Board, can pretty well demand the outrageous fees because the Right to Access for Information legislation, does not define the legal parameters of the costs of providing the information. School boards over the years have been doing it to parents via through the protocols and processes all defined by the school board and the education acts when parents have issues with the education quality of schools. The Moore case, that was heard in the spring at the Supreme Court of Canada is an example of a parent taking issue with the education quality and the delivery of education services to his son.

In the case of the Star, the investigated work revealed some shocking accountability and transparency issues to the taxpayers of the Toronto School District. It boils down to the rights of the taxpayers versus the rights of the school board. No where in the education and school acts, does it state the rights of the taxpayers. Just the processes and protocols created by the school board and their interpretation of the education act, and associated legislative acts.

In a nut shell, a Sun article states it best, “The result is that taxpayers continue to endure a school system, where, despite billions spent on public education annually, there isn’t enough money for basic school supplies.
If we’re ever going to fix this, governments have to acknowledge what the real problems are.
So far, neither the board nor the province has shown any inclination to do so. “
http://m.torontosun.com/2012/06/18/why-our-schools-are-always-broke