Canadian School Boards Association prefers elected boards

The group that represents more than 250 school boards across Canada says elected boards are best.

The Canadian School Boards Association says elections give people in those communities a voice and say about how their education systems are run.

Last week, the P.E.I. government announced the English Language School Board's functions would be integrated into the Department of Education, Early Learning and Culture.

The board of trustees has been dissolved and a Crown corporation will be created to oversee hiring of teachers and student transportation. Three new administrative councils will advise the department on education policy.

Floyd Martens, the group's vice-president, said that while he's read news stories about what P.E.I. is doing, he doesn't know a lot about the government's plan to operate schools, and create three new advisory bodies.

"I just think when it comes to having elected bodies, that represent our communities, we are choosing individuals we want to see represent and advance the voices of our communities," said Martens.

"When you move away from that, then it becomes a different dynamic."

He warned there are some things Islanders should be watching for.

"Are the advisory committees really a tool for government to say, 'Well we've consulted and we have these advisory people who have told us what we want to hear so we can make the decisions we want to make?'" he said.

"Or are they representative of the communities and the schools that we have within our jurisdictions and our areas of our communities?" 

Martens said only time will tell if the new system will be effective when it comes to the public having a say in education.