There will be no public delegation coming to an upcoming meeting of the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board.
“We work for the local community; they don’t work for us.”
Trustee Ernie Parsons did not mince his words during a committee meeting Monday.
The Governance and Policy Committee debated at length about a member of the public who requested to discuss busing at an upcoming meeting.
Board CEO Katherine MacIver says transportation is the purview of Tri-Board Student Transportation.
“I highly recommend to this committee and these trustees that the delegation be appropriately redirected to Tri-Board Transportation. Perhaps an invitation, should someone want to discuss student safety with regards to transportation, that would be non-specific to any provider, they could be welcomed back.”
Trustee Kandis Hambly is the vice-chair of the Governance and Policy Committee.
“I do not see that we have any jurisdiction over the busing. Tri-Board is a three-ownership entity. It’s not just HPE. I think that this matter probably would be the best thing to go to Tri-Board.”
Parsons says the public is the boss, not the trustees or the board.
“Here’s someone who interacts with our students each and every day during the week, and we’re saying we’re not interested in bus safety? If someone wants to come and speak to the board, I don’t think it’s outrageous to let them come and speak to the board. We talk about transparency, but we sure don’t practise it.”
CLICK HERE for a link to the meeting.
