Member Update School Board Sector – January 24, 2018

Liberal Government’s Announcement to Move to One English School Board As I am sure all of you are aware, yesterday was the release of the Dr. Avis Glaze Report to government on the structure of the Education Sector here in Nova Scotia.  All of us were very dismayed to see her recommendation to move to 2 School Boards in this Province, one English Board and one French Board. Today we were even more disappointed by the Liberal Government’s announcement that they were accepting those recommendations and implementing the transition to one English Board immediately.  While the Liberal Government has made this announcement, they were incredibly lacking in the details, (other than they would be introducing legislation) as to how they may achieve this amalgamation and the impact it would have on you as CUPE members. CUPE has put out a press release province-wide this afternoon criticizing the Liberal Government, not … Read more…

group of school kids and teacher in classroom

Liberal government throws education sector into chaos

Today’s announcement by Minister Churchill to consolidate Nova Scotia’s seven English school boards into one, while heavy on policy change, includes no details on how the government plans to implement those changes. Nan McFadgen, President of CUPE Nova Scotia, says, “With the lack of details regarding the path to achieving this plan, the minister has created apprehension, scepticism and disarray in an education system that the Liberals allege is already dysfunctional. “CUPE looks back to 2014 and the acute care sector amalgamation established by the Health Authorities Act and the ensuing disarray and unrest created by that merger.” McFadgen continues, “With the announcement today of yet more legislative changes to create two school boards in the province, CUPE feels the same turmoil will be the ultimate outcome for the school board sector in this province. “The minister has said there will be cost savings for the province; however, he was … Read more…

Liberal commissioned report misses the mark – Local governance remains best for Nova Scotia’s education system

CUPE representatives are dismayed that recommendations for the province’s education system, by Dr. Avis Glaze, will see the McNeil Liberal government repeat the mistakes they made in health care. “We are not surprised that the McNeil Liberal government’s commissioned report falls in line with the Liberal Party’s motion at their 2016 AGM to create two provincial school boards,” says CUPE Nova Scotia President Nan McFadgen. “However, from our perspective this recommendation is not one that will achieve a better education system for the Province of Nova Scotia,” says McFadgen. “We think it’s a mistake to move to a two-board system. We look back to 2014 and the acute care sector amalgamation established by the Health Authorities Act,” continues McFadgen. “The Liberal’s ‘super board’ has not worked.” “It was supposed to achieve efficiencies and stream lined processes, and therefore, better health care, accessible to everyone. The reality is communities across this … Read more…