EMSB presents at public hearings abolishing school board elections

The chair of Montreal's largest English-language school board claims proposed Quebec legislation "constitutes a threat to the success of our children."

English Montreal School Board chair, Angela Mancini, had strong words for the provincial government during the public hearings on Bill 86.

"This is a bill that does no justice to anyone within the educational system, it doesn't talk about student success, it's anti-democratic,anti-constitutionalit'sgot togo back to the drawing board," told the committee on Tuesday.

The bill would abolish school board electionsanddrastically change the way school boards are run.

• Bill 86: Hearings on school board reform underway

• Bill 86: Quebec's proposed school board reform could violate Anglo rights, expert says

If the bill is passed, elected councils of school commissionerswould be replaced by new school councils with 16representatives, which would either be elected or appointed.

These councils would be composed of:

• six parents,one of whom is the parent of a child with a disability.
• two school principals.
• one teacher.
• one non-teaching staff member.
• six community members.

The bill has faced fierce opposition, especially from English school boards, which have said they would challenge the law in court.

Mancini saidthe EMSB is willing to collaborate with the provincial government and try to find an alternative to Bill 86.

The public hearings will continue in the coming weeks, to give various Quebec school boards the opportunity to voice their opinions.