Murray weighs in on school boards, sewers and student tranfers

After bouncing around outside the jurisdiction of the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) in recent weeks to cover education topics in neighbouring boards and provinces, The Record decided to check in with ETSB Chairman Mike Murray to gauge the impact locally.

Murray on the Maritimes

Regarding the Nova Scotia government’s decision to accept a recommendation to eliminate the elected school board trustees at seven of the province’s eight boards, Murray explained that education governance systems in the Maritimes have long been in flux.

“People who won’t read history are doomed to repeat it,” he said, adding that New Brunswick abolished school boards at one point, only to find the alternative ineffective and eventually returning to the previous system.

Murray does not see the proposed elimination of school boards in Nova Scotia as having a direct impact on the ETSB, saying the situation here is very different.

“One size doesn’t fit all,” Murray said, pointing to the importance of a local body to evaluate the needs of different schools in a territory.

According to Murray, the ETSB is small enough to be able to deal with things on an individual basis, to identify and serve the unique needs of each school and centre in its district.

“Bureaucrats of any stripe have a challenge being flexible enough to allow each local part of a system to do its own thing,” he said.

While the CAQ is currently campaigning on a platform to do away with school boards, Murray pointed out that they serve an important purpose, especially during any decision-making process, serving as a buffer between the province and schools.

The edicts passed down from the government are often unrealistic when applied to a territory, Murray said, suggesting that if the provincial legislature had to answer to parents and schools directly regarding its decisions, the situation could become unmanageable quickly.

Bury student transfers

Last week The Record reported that roughly 50 students enrolled in the French Hauts-cantons School Board (CSHC) living east of Route 108 in Bury could be transferred to École Saint-paul in Scotstown at the beginning of next school year because of overcrowding at Le Parchemin school in East Angus.

The CSHC held a meeting on Jan.30 and following testimonials from concerned parents opposed to the transfer, held a brief period of deliberation and then voted unanimously in favour of transferring the students to Scotstown.

Annie Duhaime, head of the parent’s group opposed to the transfers, said some of the parents concerned are considering moving out of Bury or exploring home schooling rather than sending their children to Scotstown. While they have nothing against the school, Duhaime said the road to get there is dangerous, especially in winter, and parents would prefer exploring other options.

Among them was the idea of a shared bilingual school in Bury.

ETSB Chairman Mike Murray confirmed that the board had been contacted by parents about the idea, but no formal talks with the CSHC had taken place.

“We have occasionally discussed the concept,” Murray said, explaining that the ETSB is certainly open to the idea.

Sutton Elementary School is an example of a shared school, Murray said. While the classrooms are separate, all other aspects of SES are blended with French and English students interacting in the hallways and playground.

Murray said the board is currently exploring the possibility of a similar model in Mansonville.

“These things can take time,” he said.

Sewer trouble at Parkview

Over the weekend the city sewers in Granby backed up due to flooding.

Murray confirmed there was infiltration into Parkview Elementary School.

Maintenance crews were dispatched immediately to begin the cleanup, Murray said.

Monday was a planning day so no students were in the school. Even so, many teachers and staff found the situation intolerable and were skeptical whether the school would be clean enough to accept students the following day.

Murray said a thorough clean-up and disinfecting of the school was done and school went ahead on Tuesday as planned. The playground, however, was closed when it was discovered there had been sewer leakage outside.

A note was sent home to parents telling them to inspect their children’s’ outdoor clothes and boots.

Murray said Parkview is lucky enough have a 10-acre park beside the school, so students were able to play there during recess and lunch hour.

“We’re still working with the city,” Murray said, to make sure the playground is completely clean before students are allowed to return.

“My enthusiasm is for the crew that worked so effectively and avoided the inconvenience of closing the school,” Murray said, “their reaction time was really good.”

Murray did say that the board received a letter saying that the students shouldn’t have been allowed to eat in the cafeteria because of the strong smell of sewage combined with bleach.

“We’re certainly aware and monitoring the situation,” Murray said.