1. Review on Educational Governance
School Community Council Forum
Jan 17, 2017

2. Transformational Change
Announced Last Year
Response to challenging budget
Never clearly defined
Apparent that it is targeted toward Boards and Administration
Health and Public Boards of Education the focus

3. Transformational Change
Process
Minister Announced in the fall that there would be a panel
Cabinet decided they would have Dan Perrins write an options report on Governance for Education
Cabinet received this paper before Christmas
Perrins report was released December 21, 2016
Advisory Panel was created to listen to public reaction to the Perrins report
Panel is to present summary of feedback to Minister/Cabinet by early February
Cabinet to make decision
We expect to hear of decision prior to or on Budget day in March, 2017

4. Previous Amalgamation
January 1, 2006
Board selected summer of 2005
99 Boards to 28
North East created from 4 Boards
Systemic Shock
Schools operate
All work goes toward operations
3-5 years before true educational agenda is addressed
Challenges
Local Voice
Distance
Equity (local and provincial)

5. Shifts in Governance with Transformational Change
Strategic Direction and Accountability to Government
Effectiveness
Efficiency
Consistency/Standardization
Sector Wide Efficiency unit similar to 3S Health
Prov Advisory Committee to the Minister – Public, Catholic, Francophone and FNM & North
Education Quality Council – focus on student achievement

6. Shifts in Governance with Transformational Change
Public School Board Options
Options
Provincial – 1 public school board
Regional – 4 public school boards
Division – Option A school Boards
Option B – Small realignment of existing boundaries
Participation and communication traded off against standardization and future efficiencies
Shifts require amendments to legislation, regulations, ministry policy

7. Benefits and Challenges
More accountable to government
Greater opportunity for sharing
Over time larger systems will improve efficiency, although extent of efficiencies and effectiveness is difficult to pre-judge
Governance and administration cost decrease
Challenges
Reduced local accountability
Engaging 606 school community councils
Time and energy required to accomplish changes will impact effectiveness in short term
Hard to maximize efficiencies while working through governance and administrative changes

8. Benefits and Challenges
Public will seek redress from MLAs rather and government
A plan will be needed for First Nations representation
The board will be significantly removed from the community and school
Implementation costs will be significant, particularly in combining local agreements
It will take significant time and energy
Benefits
Board knowledge and expertise will need to reflect urban, northern and rural needs and interests
Greater consistency and standardization of policies and procedures
Funding distribution will be equitable across the public system
Once it is operational the “one school board” is less costly and complex than current state

9. Opportunities to Influence
Locally Elected Boards
Allow communities a voice
Ensure key decision about public education are made in communities
Recognize that not every student/community is the same and creates policy responsive to this local context

10. Opportunities to Influence
SSBA
Saskatchewan School Boards Association
Letter to school prior to Christmas
Engage in the “Education Belongs to the Community’ campaign
Panel
Presentation by invitation only
NESD Board presented on January 11, 2017
Online submission due by January 23, 2017
MLA’s
Very important
Amount of contacts is important
Encourage MLAs to talk with their colleagues including the Education Minister Hon. Don Morgan

11. Local democratically elected school Boards are the best choice for my community.
Local accountability comes from locally elected boards making decisions for local communities.
School boards make planning, staffing and budget decisions close to communities with the resources made available. It also encourages civic engagement in education.
Based on past experience, amalgamation will put the focus on governance, administration and change management. Students will become secondary focus setting back the advancements that have been made in literacy and improved graduation rates.
The previous NDP amalgamation caused disruptions for at least 5 years and education spending continues to rise. Economies of scale have been realized.
This would be the second time that forced amalgamation excluded Separate (minority faith) School Boards, firstly in the NDP action and now in the Sask Party proposal.

12. It took at least 5 years for the Boards, formed only 10 years ago, to become accepted as our community's school system. Significant improvement in learning is just beginning to be achieved in the last couple of years.
A large percentage of the funding for education still comes from local property taxes. While the Province sets the taxation rate, the local taxpayers still pay the toll. Taxpayers deserve local representation for education. This is different from Health where all funding except portions of capital come from the general revenue fund of the Provincial budget.
Locally elected boards are responsible for placing student needs first when making decisions, and are accountable to their electorate. They are responsible for ensuring all students within their jurisdiction have equal opportunities to reach their maximum potential. This may be lost with larger elected boards or appointed boards who may be more influenced by politics because they are responsible to the government who appointed them.

13. Opportunities to Influence
Form letters
Talking Points
Contact information
NESD website link (on-line submission due January 23)
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