As a former educator, I am very interested in the discussions now happening around the possible election of trustees or Public Schools Branch directors. I have always maintained that parents and guardians are the best partners an education system can have. I had an excellent working relationship with the P.E.I. Home and School Federation and always agreed with parents and guardians having the right and responsibility to advocate for their children. Thus, I am happy with the knowledge that more voices will be at the table. The question is whether they will be heard!
In the recently released survey, the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning is seeking input into elected board-related matters including: a suitable number of elected trustees, electoral districts, election date, method of voting (online, traditional ballot, mail-in ballot), candidate eligibility, increasing civic engagement, the potential number of candidates, increasing voter turnout, and a nomination process for candidates.
I must admit that I was perplexed by this introduction to the survey. There is an adage that says: form follows function, and this survey looks like it is all about form. The survey does give a four-sentence description of the mandate of the board but that hardly describes the real work of board members. So, I decided to go to the Education Act to see what the responsibilities of the educational authority are today. Those listed are all good but generally fall into the category of work done by staff not trustees or directors.
Why am I so insistent on discussing function in the context of school board elections? Much of the discussion is about how to get people to run for election and how to get people engaged. However, most people would not have a clue about what the real work of a trustee or director really looks like. In fact, given the turmoil that has occurred with boards in the last dozen years or so, I expect some people would shy away from participating in a school board. Anyone remember the dissolution of the Eastern District? How about a former public Schools Branch director being upset about school closure recommendations being ignored and reversed by government? Or more recently, parents on school councils not feeling heard?
I believe it is vitally important for candidates to understand what their role is and what they have power over. I know that modern board governance models promote policy direction for boards while leaving the implementation to staff. However, I suspect most candidates would want to be involved in a more direct way. Finding that balance, defining it and ensuring candidates understand what decision-making power they have is essential.
Then what should their function be? This province is small, and we all have easy contact with our politicians. The minister will always be held responsible no matter what. Parents only want what they feel is best for their child and will bypass boards in a heartbeat to advocate to the minister. Should these new elected directors have an advisory role? If so, then about what? Should they have a decision-making role? Then about what and can those decisions be overturned by the minister? Should they have a regional or provincial view? Should they bring certain expertise based on certain functions?
The Public Schools Branch presently has dozens of policies that were no doubt developed by staff and directors. The public and future candidates might like to better understand what types of discussions and decisions they would be responsible for before presenting themselves. I believe this function discussion must happen before the form discussion or at the very least concurrently if we want a real functioning board in the future. Otherwise, I fear that these future voices will not feel heard at the table and that would be a shame.
Linda Lowther is a former assistant deputy minister of education for the province of P.E.I.
