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Page THE HERALD Wednesday JutyJS 1990 School board trustees not muzzled says Williams ByLISARUTLEDGE The Herald A confidential annual per formance report showed no at tempt to muzzle school board trustees by asking committee members to support committee recommendations at the school board Halton Board of Education Director Bob Williams insists Mr Williams stated his report leaked to a Burlington Spectator reporter suggested school board trustees support within reason decisions made on board commit tees when they come before the en tire board for efficiency and unity The education board needs com mittees or else the would become chaotic create an impractical decision making The education director explained it is important to trust school trustees who bnng recommends tions to the board There is no by law stipulating trustees cannot ask for more detailed reports but in many cases trustees complain of excessively detailed reports ad ding to already burgeoning paper work said Mr Williams Cam Burlington South MPP and Progressive Conser education critic said the Halton education director is at tempting to enforce a manage ment tool at the school I Describing an inc dent during his term s a former school trustee Mr Jackson torn mittee administration member told htm he had an obligation to support a recommendation despite his concerns Mr Jackson said he refused to have any part of this silent code of conduct because a school board is not a soccer team but a board based on public representation Trustees are elected to represent their constituents and they should be heard the education critic said Are trustees to manage or are they there to express the view of the public Mr Jackson asked He insisted the decision making process should be open and as democratic as possible Elected of ficials should not surrender their voice objectivity or conscience where accountabiliK to the tax payers and children is concerned Mr Jackson explained Trustees have to rely on other trustees to represent them on com mittees he said If trustees cannot vote against a committee recom Bob Williams mendation and provide new in formation to other trustees the best decision may not always be reached by the board he explain ed As PC education critic Mr Jackson has identified the same management tool in many school boards across the province The Ontario School Board Reform Network created to support the democratic process Ontario school boards outline several mandates in a mid June report The reform network composed of trustees across the province pledged to reaffirm the bas t democratic principle that local control over education is centred in elected trustees and to solidify the authontv of trustees over board program and financial decisions by reforming the Ontario Educa tion Act Another network mandate is to ensure that elected trustees are guaranteed free and open access to information in relation to all board business and operations par respect to major spending decisions In the reform report Beth Cooper a Windsor public school trustee stated that some elected trustees are regularly denied cess to information necessary to constructive policy making and to sound decision making This can and often does reduce trustees to the role of rubber stampers for senior Arlene Bruce North Halton trustee insisted the Halton tion director s report made no plication of muzzling trustees on committees The education board Cam Jackson is one of the most open governing bodies anywhere shesaid Mrs Bruce agrees with Mr William s suggestion that trustees on committees should support recommendations when brought to the board Detailed discussions belong in the committees and should not be fought over again at the board argued Mrs Bruce The fight goes on prior to the board s decision she said Trustees to relv on commit tees to come up with the best recommendations the can and sometimes trustees have to live with those recommendations Mrs Bruce said But trustees who still have senous reservations about a recommendation still have a se cond kick at the can at the board she added Mrs Bruce indicated when she became a trustee 10 years ago there were several cliques in the school board The public was not listened to and could not get in formation unless they had an in side access she said The board has evolved to allow for input from the public with the inclusion of parent representatives sitting on committees said Mrs Bruce Mrs Bruce maintains she has never felt the obligation to hold back information other trustees should ftnow If anyone told me to keep information from the next board meeting I would be raising the roof she said But she admitted often trustees complain when given extensive reports She explained it is tant to support committee recom was looking for a career change and returning to University has been good for me in terms of increasing my knowledge and making me more marketable Nancy Smitten Weston Ontario 519 8841970 Extension 4447 For a complimentary copy of the FallWinter Part time Studies Course Calendar or for personal assistance just call us ITS Exploring New Horizons FALL SEMESTER 1990 September 10 December 21 Launer offers courses both through classroom lectures and at a distance through Telecollege We re here to help you achieve your educational goals Classes are available for part time students at Brampton Centennial Secondary School Avenue South Brampton Teleconferences for Telecollege courses are also held at this location Were sure that at you find classes that suit your interests career and schedule Join us at our Information Session You II have an opportunity to get answers to questions and meet staff and fellow part time students Bring a friend Wednesday August 1 1990 Brampton Public Library Chinguacousy Branch 150 Centra Park Drive Meeting Room Second Floor 7 30 9 p m Wilfrid University 75 University Ave West Waterloo Ontario N2L 3C5 Bruce because you have to have a good feeling about other trustees as you are working together to seek solutions Unity is strength she said Dick Howitt North Halton school trustee refused to comment on the director confidential per formance report but did say he has never felt compelled to support committee recommendations Dick Howitt Mr Howitt insisted muzzling t exist at the Halton school board A member of the Early Childhood Education Committee Mr Howitt even voted against a report recommendations which came before the board recently It just t happen in tice he said And if anyone tried it would be met with no sue Serving Halton Hills Brampton Town of Caledon FULL FINANCING AVAILABLE OAC Wd Softeners Iron F Iters In I F Hers Reverse Osmos Systems Bottled Water and I on Removers UV Ozone I A WHOLE HOUSE SYSTEM SOFTENER REVERSE OSMOSIS COMPLETELY INSTALLED FOR AS LITTLE AS PER MONTH Complete Sales Service to Residential Commercial Free Home Delivery on Softener Salt Bottled Water For a Free In Home Water Analysts call THE WATER DEPOT Guelph St Georgetown 8731090 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