Education consultations hold promise

During the past few weeks, school boards in Nova Scotia have been participating in the consultation phase of the Education System Administrative Review with Dr. Avis Glaze.

School boards welcome the review and, in fact, have been critically examining governance and developing a new approach to governance for almost two years. We also realize it has been over 20 years since there was a review of school boards, and the education environment has changed.

When the government announced the review, school board members simply asked that the review be transparent, open, research-based and completed by a third-party reviewer with experience in educational governance and administration. And school boards wanted to be involved. This is our work, after all, and we take it very seriously.

School boards were pleased when approached by Dr. Glaze to arrange consultation meetings. Given the tight timeline the school boards appreciated the efforts to meet with the seven regional boards and one provincial Acadian board. She made it a priority, and school boards were given the chance to speak with her in their regions and highlight the uniqueness of each board.

While Dr. Glaze compiles her feedback and findings to develop her report and recommendations, the Nova Scotia School Boards Association’s Governance Action Plan Steering Committee with representation from all school boards will continue its work on a governance approach for school boards developed specifically for Nova Scotia.

Feedback from the auditor general and a deeper examination of governance practices have resulted in materials and supports for school boards. The committee has produced accountability templates for school boards to increase public transparency, and the model being developed has a strong emphasis on student success and community engagement. It is a strong governance approach that ensures democratically elected people are making decisions.

Regardless of a review, or of recommendations from the auditor general, school boards understand the importance of serving students and communities. Together we are working to strengthen this role and provide a local democratic voice in our education system. Every school board is different, every community is different, every school is different and every student is different. School boards work to oversee and administer a provincial education system that balances province-wide consistency with local level autonomy to serve those differences.

This is at the core of what we do as governing school board members, and we will continue to be dedicated to student success and a strong education system.

Hank Middleton

President, Nova Scotia School Boards Association Sue Ritchie

Past president, Nova Scotia School Boards Association and Chair, Governance Action Plan Steering Committee