Trustee won’t close Vancouver schools: Bernier

VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s education minister says no schools in Vancouver are expected to be closed following the dismissal of the district’s entire school board.

Mike Bernier said the former superintendent tasked with being the board’s new official trustee has told him school closures are not being considered for the foreseeable future.

Former Delta School District superintendent Dianne Turner was appointed to the new position Monday after Bernier fired the nine-member board following months of controversy that included allegations of workplace bullying.

Turner’s appointment will last for at least 12 months, and Bernier said it may be extended if she needs more time to stabilize the organization.

The minister said he fired the board primarily because it had not passed a balanced budget as required by provincial legislation and that he could not “take at face value” anything board members said.

Board chairman Mike Lombardi has called the move outrageous, saying trustees were elected to stand up for public education, not to do the government’s dirty work of closing schools, cutting programs and selling off public assets.