New Westminster PAC conflict of interest resolution rises
The media in the province of BC has been busy lately, reporting their share of educational issues that have become increasingly political.
One educational issue seems to be rising to provincial levels pretty quickly, as the New Westminster District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) has approved a resolution that proposes the province of BC join Alberta and Ontario in disallowing employees - including teachers - of a school district to run for a board of education. Currently, the ban only applies to candidates running for trustees if they work in the same school district. The New Westminster Board currently has three teacher trustees.
The DPAC believes that trustees excuse themselves or should excuse themselves frequently because of conflicts of interest, an issue that costs many districts time and money in lawyer fees. The Board disputes the DPAC’s contention and believes it unnecessary to ban teachers from being trustees in districts where they do not work.
Whenever a local issue involving education arises, it’s discussed and debated from all angles in mainstream traditional printed media as well as on social networking sites. Issues involving education have been followed closely by media and local print companies that represent both school boards and the provincial governments, especially as BC school boards and unions face collective bargaining differences and court resolutions.
An earlier court case already ruled that teachers who are trustees are ineligible to participate in collective bargaining. The DPAC believes that the public deserves a full board of unencumbered decision makers.
One educational issue seems to be rising to provincial levels pretty quickly, as the New Westminster District Parent Advisory Council (DPAC) has approved a resolution that proposes the province of BC join Alberta and Ontario in disallowing employees - including teachers - of a school district to run for a board of education. Currently, the ban only applies to candidates running for trustees if they work in the same school district. The New Westminster Board currently has three teacher trustees.
The DPAC believes that trustees excuse themselves or should excuse themselves frequently because of conflicts of interest, an issue that costs many districts time and money in lawyer fees. The Board disputes the DPAC’s contention and believes it unnecessary to ban teachers from being trustees in districts where they do not work.
Whenever a local issue involving education arises, it’s discussed and debated from all angles in mainstream traditional printed media as well as on social networking sites. Issues involving education have been followed closely by media and local print companies that represent both school boards and the provincial governments, especially as BC school boards and unions face collective bargaining differences and court resolutions.
An earlier court case already ruled that teachers who are trustees are ineligible to participate in collective bargaining. The DPAC believes that the public deserves a full board of unencumbered decision makers.