Squabbling costs school board members their jobs

The province is taking control over the largest school board in Nova Scotia because of its constant bickering and infighting.

Education Minister Karen Casey announced Tuesday she is dissolving the 13-member elected Halifax Regional School Board and appointing one man in its place.

Former bureaucrat Howard Windsor will run the board, which oversees 138 schools in the Halifax region, until the next election in October 2008.

Casey said the former board members failed to show each other enough respect, which meant the board couldn't do its job.

"They have failed to put their differences behind them," she said, "and Ibelieve this inability to rise above their differences has compromised their effectiveness."

Casey refuses to blame any particular board member or say if they're all at fault.

But aseducation minister,she said it was her duty to teachers, students and members of the public to take this action.

Windsor, formerdeputy minister ofthe Treasury and Policy Board,will have all the power the board had, including representing the concerns of parents and approvinghow the board's money is spent.

He will also have the final say onschool closures.

"His accountability is to me," Casey said. "If parents are not happy with that, I want to hear from them."

Casey has the power under the Education Act to dissolve a school board and appoint someone in its place.

Don't punish everyone: Barlow

Even so, said Debra Barlow, former vice-chair of the Halifax board, Casey didn't have to punish everyone.

"I refuse to say that 'the board' should take any responsibility," Barlow said.

"Are there individuals on that board that should be taking responsibility? Yes. But should the entire board be paying the penance for a few? I don't think so."

Barlowsaid she believesthe education ministeris trying to divert the public's attention from the Tory government's own lack of direction.

While Windsor is in charge, the 13 board memberswill continue to collect their stipend.

Refused to take seat

Casey warned the board last week she was considering action after hearing about a shouting match involving several members.

The Halifax school board has seen plenty of drama this year alone.

In January,Doug Sparks, the African-Nova Scotian member, refused to take his seat under the new seating arrangement, saying he wouldn't be bullied and suggestinghe had a Charter right to sit wherever he wanted.

After two meetings had to be cancelled, there were calls for a mediator to come in to help members get along.

Amonth later, Peggy Draper was voted off for nothaving a good excuse for missingthree meetings in a row.

The education minister at the time, Jamie Muir, said he gotletters from parents whowere angry about the antics of members and hethreatened to dissolve the board if members couldn't get back to business.

In October, justice officials announced thata Nova Scotia Supreme Court justice would decide if Bernadette Reid, found to be in a conflict of interest, would have to give up her seat.

More fingerpointing

The caseprompted both Reid and Sparks to claim the board was singling Reid out because she's black. Board members denied the claim.

Sparkslater triedto have several other board members investigated for possible conflicts of interest.Heput forward a motion three weeks ago, but it failed to get off the ground.

It was around this time that a shouting match broke out before a board meeting, leading to the education minister's warning.