Nova Scotia’s education minister has moved to restrict the decision-making abilities of the province’s seven English-language schools boards ahead of their pending dissolution.
In a letter sent to the boards on Monday, Zach Churchill says a number of board matters and decisions will now require his approval ahead of the transition period to a single provincial advisory council.
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They include the approval of any new school board policies, agreements or changes to decisions regarding transportation, finance, operations, and staffing, and the initiation of any new school reviews.
Churchill says the boards must also continue to work with the department to implement universal pre-primary programming.
The Liberal government announced last week that it was accepting a recommendation included in a report by consultant Avis Glaze that called for the elimination of the seven regional boards.
WATCH: N.S. government to move ahead with recommendation to eliminate school boards
The decision has not been well received by the Canada School Boards Association (CSBA), an organization that represents school board associations.
In a press release on Monday, the organization called the decision by the Nova Scotia government a “threat to democracy and to the right of representation.”
“It’s imperative that government works with local representation to strengthen the education system and contribute to the goal of improving outcomes and achievements for all children,” said Floyd Martens, President of the CSBA.
The dissolution of Nova Scotia’s school boards can’t happen until the government introduces legislation, expected sometime after the House of Assembly returns to work on Feb. 27.
— with files from Alexander Quon, Global News
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