Education Reform Update of April 9, 1998, No. 5

The first issue of this newsletter devoted to Bill 180 (the Act to amend the Education Act and various legislative provisions) focused on the main policies concerning the new powers of schools, the mandate of the governing board and the role of teachers. This issue explains the composition and operation of the governing board and the role of the school principal. A timetable on the reverse side of this sheet shows when the various provisions of the new Act are to be implemented.

The Governing Board: A True Decision-Making Team

The Bill creates a new form of partnership between users of the school (i.e., parents) and the school staff, and also recognizes that the school must maintain links with the community. This is reflected in the composition and rules of operation of the governing board.

Composition

The Bill does not fix the number of seats on the governing board so that the size of the board may be adapted to the needs of the school. It does, however, set a maximum of twenty seats.

The basic principle for determining the composition of the governing board is that there must be equal representation of school staff and parents. Furthermore, the chair must be a parent elected from among the parent representatives on the governing board.

The governing board is therefore made up of the following members:

Voting Members:

• at least four parents of students attending the school;
• at least four members of the school staff including at least two teachers and, if the interested persons so decide, at least one non-teaching professional and one support staff member;
• in elementary schools providing day care services, a member of the daycare staff.

Non-Voting Members:

• two representatives of the community;
• in secondary schools offering the second cycle, two student in the second cycle.

The school principal takes part in meetings of the governing board but is not entitled to vote.

Commissioners may take part in meetings, when authorized to do so by the governing board, but are not entitled to vote.

The Bill sets out the procedures for electing or appointing the members of the governing board.

Rules of Operation

The governing board may meet as often as necessary but must meet at least five times a year. Its meetings are open to the public.

To have a quorum, half of the members must be present, including half of the parent representatives. Decisions are made by a majority vote of the members present and entitled to vote. If votes are equally divided, the chair has the casting vote.

The School Principal: A Strategic Role

Given the powers that have been handed over to the school, the responsibilities and powers exercised by the school principal are vital. The school principal is in fact the key person of the reform and plays a triple role.

First, the principal assists the governing board. He or she receives all proposals to be considered by the governing board, prepares these proposals by consulting the school staff concerned, and follows up on all decisions.

Second, the principal provides greater leadership in pedagogical matters, in keeping with the new powers devolved to the school. The principal must approve teachers’ proposals regarding local programs, the standards for the introduction of new teaching methods, the choice of textbooks and teaching materials, the standards and procedures for the evaluation of student achievement, and the rules for the placement of students and their promotion from one cycle to another in elementary school.

Last, the management role of the school principal is broadened to include new areas of responsibility. It is now the principal’s duty to:

• determine the school’s needs in terms of human resources, professional development, goods and services, and the management and improvement of school premises;
• organize the professional development activities agreed upon with the school staff;
• prepare and manage the school’s budget and present it to the governing board and the school board for approval.

Timetable for Implementation of the Provisions of the Bill for the 1998-99 School Year

The new provisions of the Bill will have obvious consequences for school organization. The school boards and their provisional councils must take its amendments into consideration in planning and preparing the start of the new school year in September 1998.

The following table lists the main steps, the party responsible for each step, and the applicable sections of the Education Act (amended by Bill 180).