‘Disgusted,’ ‘betrayed’ and ‘poorly thought out.’
Those were some of the phrases used by Tri-County Regional School Board members to describe Dr. Avis Glaze’s report on education administration in Nova Scotia.
Earlier today, Education Minister Zach Churchill announced the province will adopt 11 of 22 recommendations, including dissolving the seven English language elected school boards.
At a special meeting this evening in Yarmouth, Board Chair Michael Drew led off by saying he and other chairs met with Dr. Glaze earlier in the day, and felt betrayed by her.
Drew feels the recommendations will take the word ‘public’ out of ‘public education.’
At special meeting, Tri-County Regional School Board Chair Michael Drew says he’s ‘disgusted’ with Dr. Avis Glaze’s report on education administration in NS. Says move to eliminate elected school boards is taking the ‘public’ out of ‘public education.’ pic.twitter.com/hnuyNJ6BdW
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) January 24, 2018
He called Dr. Glaze’s report a lie.
“Her presentation of data seems to indicate that Nova Scotia is third from the bottom in the country in certain international testing. The reality of it is, we are fourth.”
He says fourth is still not good enough, but the way Dr. Glaze presented the data was dishonest.
Drew says boards challenge government on initiatives and examine how they impact students to come up with the best possible solutions.
Each board member presented their thoughts during the nearly two hour long meeting.
In an emotional statement, Andrea Huskilson-Townsend says education won’t have a local voice in Nova Scotia.
“My feelings are with the students. Who is going to advocate for them? Who is going to be the middle person to navigate the waters for the parents advocating for their students. The amount of calls that I’ve had over the years range so broadly. Concerns for their children, whether they have a learning disability and can’t be assessed. Who are those parents going to go to?”
TCRSB Board member Andrea Huskilson-Townsend says Dr. Glaze’s report will impact rural areas negatively, and education won’t have a local voice in Nova Scotia. pic.twitter.com/GMtJMkHXmA
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) January 24, 2018
TCRSB Board Member Faye Haley says 0.4 percent of board budget goes toward board members and their expenses, doesn’t make sense to eliminate elected board. Calls Dr. Glaze’s report ‘poorly thought out.’ Doesn’t address student curriculum, which isn’t working. pic.twitter.com/1v9tXQMmhu
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) January 24, 2018
TCRSB Member Donna Tidd says she’s heard board members are only upset because they’re losing their jobs. She says that’s not true, says she’s been a board member since 1991 because she’s concerned about students. pic.twitter.com/z8UeJY6o87
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) January 24, 2018
TCRSB Board Member Dolores Atwood pleased with province’s decision to adopt recommendations of Dr. Glaze. Says Board hasn’t done enough to help vulnerable children. Says her 5 years as a board member hasn’t been what she expected, and they’ve failed children. pic.twitter.com/zCHgTIKmm6
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) January 24, 2018
For now, it’s business as usual for the board as legislation will have to be introduced by government in the House of Assembly to make the changes.
