Speed of school change may be too fast, ex-trustees worry

Some former trustees with P.E.I.'s English Language School Board are concerned changes being made in the province's school administration system are happening too quickly, and important work might be lost.

Last week Education Minister Hal Perry announced the school board is being phased out, and the government-appointed trustees had been dismissed.

Change that has been quick — sometimes it might be too quick.- Ex-school board trustee Gary Doucette

David Mitchell was one of those trustees. He and other trustees said they're hopeful the changes announced last week will lead to a stronger education system, but they would like to know more about how the government plans to improve student outcomes.

Mitchell said the board is in the middle of a five-year strategic plan to improve student achievement.

He said when trustees were told last week they were being dismissed, they asked if government will continue with the board's plan for student achievement.

"And they (government) said simply that it hadn't been worked out yet," said Mitchell.

"So to see initiatives start and make headway, and then all of a sudden to feel that those initiatives would possibly come to a screeching halt, that was an uncomfortable feeling."

Trustees were not consulted

Some former trustees also say changes in the education system have been coming too quickly. It was only two years ago that the province's two English school boards were amalgamated into one. Ex-trustee Gary Doucette said trustees spent most of the last two years developing policies for the new board, as directed by the minister of education.

"If change keeps happening this fast, and if we're always trying to catch up with the change because it's not, I won't say well planned, but change that has been quick — sometimes it might be too quick," said Doucette.

"I'm just hoping that everybody has thought it out."

The former trustees say they weren't consulted on the new model for education.

Doucette said it will be a setback if the model has to be changed again some years down the road.