It appears the new Trustees for the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board will decide whether or not policy will line up with provincial legislation.
On Monday, at one of the final committee meetings for HPEDSB, the Governance and Policy Committee discussed board governance.
In May, the Province of Ontario passed Bill 101 – the Putting Student Achievement First Act
In short, the bill centralizes ministry authority over school boards, by expanding control over curriculum, leadership appointments, facilities management, and a shift of budgetary authority from the trustees to the CEO.
CEO Katherine MacIver presented a report that would align the boards governance to the new legislation.
Part of that legislation sees a dramatic shift in the role and authority of trustees, including the ability to approve a budget.
The wording changes from approve to adopt a budget.
Trustee Ernie Parsons did not want to approve the governance changes for a new board.
“This is very much a lame duck board, a board that has struggled at times even to come to consensus on things. The items we’re dealing with are important things. I think it is appalling and totally inappropriate for this board to determine the policies for the new board.”
Chair Kari Kramp says it is important for HPEDSB to follow the province’s bill.
“I do believe that we have the experience. I do believe that we have a responsibility to have our policies align with legislation. I do see it as a risk to us and a disservice to the board that we postpone this and put it on them.”
Now although trustees cannot “approve” a budget, they are able to work with the CEO to come to an agreement and move forward.
If a school board still rejects the budget or misses the deadline to vote on it, they must ask the Minister of Education for approval.
Trustee Shannon Binder.
“If we determine that it’s something that we can’t support, then we would have those discussions and I think that goes with those saying, our responsibility is to do it, which we eventually will when it’s right.”
CEO Katherine MacIver.
“I think anytime that you aren’t updating your policies on a regular basis, it puts you at risk. This board has had difficulty moving through policy and getting them updated on a regular basis.”
“I think the risk that it gives the board is people walking away with an inaccurate picture of what the job is. You do have new trustees that are coming on board, and so we’re going to introduce them to a governance policy that is inaccurate.”
In the end, the committee decided to move the recommendation/report to the next Board of Trustees for HPEDSB.
CLICK HERE for the agenda and report (begins on page 7)
