Officials with the Strait Regional School Board say they haven’t heard much from their counterparts with the provincial government regarding their future, other than four directives.
Provincial officials announced they would accept the “spirit” of all 22 recommendations from Dr. Avis Glaze’s report in January, starting with 11 recommendations; the first recommendation was to dissolve all seven English-speaking school boards throughout the province, and create a provincial advisory council.
At February’s regular school board meeting Wednesday night, Jamie Samson, the chair of the board, said his chair’s report could have been his last.
He said they’re waiting for more information and direction to learn what will happen to the boards.
After the meeting, Samson said they have to work with what they’re given.
“(It’s) business as usual until we’re told otherwise,” he said. “The minister was very clear that we are still a governing board until we’re told otherwise, so we’ll continue to govern until then.”
Samson said it hasn’t been an easy couple weeks.
“When Dr. Glaze released her report, there was that surprise and disappointment in the board.”
Four directives have been given to boards to follow:
-they are to not approve any school board policies without approval from Zach Churchill, the province’s Education and Early Childhood Development minister
-they are to not enter into agreements or make substantive changes regarding school board governance or board services, transportation, finance, property and property services, operations, human resources or programming
-they are not to start any new school reviews
-they are to continue to support the pre-primary program
Churchill has said he hoped to have the provincial advisory council implemented by the 2018-19 school year.
He said amendments to the Education Act would have to be passed before that could take place; the legislature has been called back for sitting Feb. 27.