Provincial education departments are rushing to legislate a space for parents on school councils but are not certain whether the councils should sell chocolate almonds or hire the principals.
Patricia Gorius, a Saskatchewan educator, outlined the Canadian scene at last month’s National Congress on Rural Education. She said every province gives school councils a place in the education realm, usually without any funding. However, the legislated duties of the councils range from advising on discipline policy to having “a strong handle on the running of schools.”
Gorius said Ontario requires each of its 5,000 schools to form a council that has responsibility for the budget, selection of the principal and some authority over the courses offered. Ontario offers its councils the most power but several panelists at the session wondered what happens to elected school boards in the process. Ontario and New Brunswick’s answers have been to reduce or eliminate the boards.
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One who is suspicious of this trend is Derwyn Crozier-Smith, assistant general secretary of the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation. While noting he was not speaking for STF policy, he said: “The advent of school councils across Canada is not true educational reform but part of a political agenda.”
Crozier-Smith said councils seem to be a response to criticism of the massive cuts in education funding. Councils appear to give more local control.
“The parents I talk to are not particularly interested in making education decisions. What they want is better communication between schools and homes.”
He worries that when councils get established in Saskatchewan, they will intrude on areas that belong to professionals in the system, whether administrators or teachers.
In defence of the concept, Deborah Agema said councils act as advocates for parents and children.
“We don’t support what we don’t understand,” said Agema, a parent and president of the Saskatchewan Association of School Councils. Having a defined role ensures parents are informed about education and made partners in decisions about their kids’ schools.
Kathy LeGrow, a trustee from Newfoundland, said councils are cheaper for government if they are used to replace school boards. But she raised a concern about poor or rural areas where parents may be intimidated and less comfortable in talking to school professionals.
Alberta and British Columbia have the most experience with school councils, having set them up in 1988 and 1989. The president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, Bauni Mackay, said originally the government wanted to give the councils lots of authority but in meetings around Alberta, parents said they didn’t want that.
“They wanted influence on discipline and program emphasis but they didn’t want to run schools.”
Mackay said as a result of parents’ varying levels of interest there is “an abundance of situations” regarding school councils.
A Manitoba school superintendent on the panel, William Schaffer of Swan Valley, said he supported school councils but that they had to accept the same concept as boards.
“We’re here to only serve the increased effectiveness of all students.”
The disadvantage of councils is that they can be controlled by special interest groups.
