We’re going to hear lots more about Manitoba government’s plan to renovate the governance and funding of education. For one thing, like all amalgamations in the past, (previous school districts, health regions, and municipal regions) it would appear to be reducing grass roots democracy.
But, more than that, this is NOT amalgamation. It is gutting the whole structure, including the loadbearing walls. It’s mind boggling!
And, to be fair, Minister of Ed. Cliff Cullen admitted all the details are not yet worked out.
Between the press conference and technical briefing on March 16, I felt like a swimmer tossed from a comfortable lawn chair into fast flowing chilly river. Now, I can swim. However, the scope and details of the Act (English portion over 150 pages) plus supporting documents are … disorienting.
I truly hope to find a silver lining or pot of gold for students, parents and teachers in these changes, but right now, I have no idea where to look for that.
I cannot help but wonder how Manitobans are to believe the provincial government will achieve the goal of giving parents more say in children’s education. As it sits, it looks like between two and five parents will be on the Board of the Provincial Authority, as advisors.
Two things they must do are to determine the number and type of schools in each region and determine the official course of studies.
They must make school policies about educational matters that may differ from school to school. Early learning to adult education, including technical and vocational education, would all fall under the purview of this board as well.
An advisory council is not the same as an elected school board who makes decisions via a vote that becomes a motion – passed or rejected.
Bill 64 is at second reading and will have to go to public hearings. There’s also an EngageMB survey that invites everyone to weigh in.
However, when the government says they care so much about our youth getting a good education and that this will put more “say” into parents’ hands, think about how a door-to-door vacuum salesman used to gain access to your carpeted floor. They say the right words.
What load-bearing walls will be left? What structural beams are going to support the multi-faceted school system? I need to re-think this. It sounds like the new school system will be a clear-span framework. That’s how different it is.
Who will hire and support our local teachers, EAs, secretaries, bus drivers, janitorial staff and resource people? As for the $40M saved, that’s about 3.8 per cent of Manitoba’s education budget and Minister Cullen did not answer the press’s question: will the student to teacher ratio improve?
