Timing may have soured school divisions to changes: review author

It’s all about timing.

The man who compiled Saskatchewan’s K-12 governance review says it’s “quite possible” changes to the province’s Education Act may have got a warmer reception from education stakeholders if they had been rolled out separately from a tough budget.

Because the changes came just days after the budget, school divisions have soured on potential shifts after at first showing what the government called “significant support” for them.

“It seems to have created a much different climate now,” said Dan Perrins, who wrote the Education Governance Review, parts of which were cited as the basis for the changes.

While it’s up to the government when to change the legislation, “the decision to attach it to the budget has clearly impacted the receptivity … school boards appeared to have had previously,” Perrins said.

If passed, Bill 63, the Education Amendment Act, would give the education minister more control over school board spending. It has been criticized by the Saskatchewan School Boards’ Association, which represents the province’s 28 divisions.

Education Minister Don Morgan, who recently entertained the idea of pulling back on the changes, originally noted the amendments’ purpose was to help ensure divisions make the best fiscal choices.

In a release, Morgan said the six-person advisory panel heard “a clear need to ensure school divisions are being as efficient and effective as possible with the resources that are available.”

The consultations included meetings with 45 stakeholder groups and feedback from 4,000 online submissions.

Perrins said while he understands the government wanted to act quickly — the bill went for its second reading on April 12 — it may have been better for the government to wait before asking so much of divisions, since it has created atmosphere that makes it “really difficult” for the two groups to work together.

Last week, the SSBA said it wasn’t properly consulted and called on parents to speak out against the amendments on social media and to their elected officials.

“All we’re asking for is to be involved to ensure the law that governs education is appropriate for school division governance,” SSBA president Shawn Davison told reporters earlier this month.

“The act has preserved elected boards as existing; what it has not preserved is the responsibilities of those elected boards.”

Greater Saskatoon Catholic Schools board chair Diane Boyko said the changes may result in boards being “stripped of the autonomy,” while the government makes local spending decisions.

“My fellow trustees and I believe that boards should continue to be your voice for education, not the face of education,” Boyko said in a post to parents and guardians on the division’s website. “We ask that you once again add your voice — stand up for education in your community and stop Bill 63.”

In response to a request for an interview with Morgan, the Education Ministry issued a prepared statement saying it “has been in regular contact with the Saskatchewan School Boards Association (SSBA) and will continue working with them to address the concerns that have been raised.”