The head of one regional school board says proposed provincial legislation would mark significant changes to education.
Education Minister Stephen Lecce announced details of the legislation last week, which would include regulating school boards to focus on student achievements in more back to basic academic skills like reading, writing, and math.
According to the Ministry of Education, the bill will attempt to standardize the education system by regulating district school boards under a multi-year board improvement plan that reflects the minister’s priorities which includes greater oversight over provincially funded tax dollars.
Superior-Greenstone District School Board director of education Nicole Morden-Cormier called the bill “a significant change to education.”
“What the minister is proposing is to increase oversight into the priorities of a school board,” she said.
These priorities will allow the Ontario government to oversee every aspect of the school board including education for teachers and school board trustees, capital assets, and governance of the board.
Additionally, along with annual report cards, the bill will require school boards to report student achievement to parents twice a year on growth and improvement and actively promote parental involvement with the school board.
Morden-Cormier said that there is still much more to learn about the education bill and its effects on the school board as the bill moves through the house.
However, Morden-Cormier also acknowledged that some are viewing the bill as southern Ontario-centric.
"The model that is being proposed is somewhat challenging just simply because we are short of teachers and we are short of staff because of our vast geography,” she said.
Morden-Cormier said the board is working on a plan to ensure they are able to meet the proposed changes if the bill passes.
With files from Al Cresswell, CFNO Radio
