The Ministry of Education needs to take back some power regarding what programs will be implemented and funded. Although local board trustees could recommend programming, many now believe the final approval, standardization and oversight must return to the Ministry. This statement is being heard across Halton as parents demand change on programming decisions.
Trustees currently vote on programs. One can only assume that when power was placed in the local hands it was believed that community needs would be best served by this model because the local school boards would know their own needs better than the provincial government.
In theory that may appear to be a logical method of delivering education but there are many issues that have occurred:
1. Standardization no longer exists as to what is delivered, who gets it and how protected mandated programming is with this program delivery model. One need look no further than Special Education or French education to see the lack of standardization and the effects of this delivery model.
2. Protections are weak at best to ensure votes are fair and honest. Conflict of interest rules seem to focus on the exchange of money. Ministry oversight seems lacking. Many are asking what happens when a vote essentially benefits a trustee or his/her family directly (even without money exchanging hands) and why this cannot be considered a conflict of interest. Can monetary gain only be measured by money exchanging hands but instead can it be based on any financial benefit when busing, programming, locations are factored in? For example, busing has a financial impact indirectly because gas/car expenses are not incurred to transport a child to/from school. Can or should that be deemed a conflict of interest?
3. Optional programming and special interest groups can have a stronger influence potentially. What guidelines exist to ensure that mandated programming takes priority and is protected?
4. Funding based on a set criteria may not be followed later especially if the Ministry does not ensure restrictions are placed on the funding. For example funding a ‘dual track school’ without including some management/caps/guarantees that enrollment protections are in place can allow a ‘grow it from the ground up’ takeover of a school. Does this not encourage a workaround?
5. Ministry can excuse decisions by stating the country supports particular programming or that control is at the board level. Does this not get the very Ministry that is supposed to manage this area off the hook regarding accountability?
6. Loudest voice wins the day. If programming was taken back to the Ministry level, would accountability not be clearer, standardization would occur and fair and quality education would be possible for all?
Let us know what you think.
You would never want the Ministry to pick programs-most of them are more political than educators and have not been in the classroom or working with children for years.
Be careful what you wish for.
Although I would normally agree with you, in Oakville many communities have seen their local schools taken away from them literally, their children bused out, dual schools have their enrollment taken over by FI programming (thus eventually the school itself) and now other programming jumping queues while kids wait years for testing and servicing. At least the Ministry could be reported on and pressured whereas many in our community feel the trustees who vote on this stuff only cater to some in the community. After being part of consultations where recommendations were ignored and trustee table motion at 10:30 removing all other agreed solutions from the table, having PARCs result in scathing government report stating that the community was not given facts re: $$$ for schools being sold so options were not truly known when schools were being closed, etc. many now say the community goes into negotiations and consultations with intentions pure ….only to be fooled into participating because they feel the end result was already decided and protections are deliberately not in place because many at the board already know what they want..they just have to figure out how to get it. If having your elected representative not working in your favour as many now believe is worse than at least having the government body accountable for their decisions and offering standardized solutions….many are now stating they would rather have that. Many guess it depends if you are the select group they want to represent and/or not scold at meetings because you are living with the kids not serviced and live the day-to-day realities of the consequences. It is our children’s lives and futures in the balance. Maybe at least the government may listen to the community and/or experts who are openly questioning decisions made by this board. Did you know that some in the spec ed community actually left the table because of this board’s decisions only recently to come back hoping for change. For many that is not a very clear vote of confidence. Maybe an ombusman and a place to actually go when transparency does not seem to exist and accountability does not seem evident to most. That is what we are hearing from many in our community. We at Oakville Chit Chat are a vehicle where people are commenting, and telling us their stories. If you had any idea the heartbreaking stories we are hearing, you may not think we are thinking too hastily to get government intervention.
Don’t know how I missed this one. Ms. Gross shares that we’d never want the Ministry to pick as they are more political than educators, nor have they spent any time in a classroom. I guess you’d rather some of your Trustees, past and present, have the honors? I dare say that some of our Trustees, have never had a “hands-on” moment in either the classroom or with many of the constituents they represent as to how their decisions might affect them. It all looks good on paper, but out in the school community where it makes a real difference, the only ones that may have a good handle on things are most parents, teachers or better yet, has anyone thought of asking the children? You’d think then, they’d hunt and gather for past successes/failures before they implement permanent policy. You’d be wrong. I remember watching in disbelief when at a HDSB meeting, a Trustee put up their hand to vote on a motion and spoke out “will someone tell me what am I voting yes to?”. Yep, be careful what you wish for……………
Could not agree with most of what you state. I think having the Ministry involved more than pushing it down, however, seems to be needed even if it is at an oversight level so that if conflict of interest (not just monetary) or what many perceive as hijacked or misguided decisions (for any school board) can at least be reviewed and/or reversed to protect the community. As it seems to stand today trustees have the only say. Something needs to change.
What you are right about is that children HAVE to come first,how to get that done I will never know because school boards are political bureaucracies and the kids don`t come first sadly.I wish you good luck in your endeavours,I don`t know what the answer is,lots of smoke and mirrors at both ends.
Ever tried to call the MOE-?