I have just finished working through the Inspiring Action “transformation guide” on Shared Governance, Collaboration, School Boards, and Natural Person Powers. The final question asks you for any other comments. Here is what I wanted to say, but it exceeds the 100 word limit. This is way longer!
RE: Collaboration. I totally agree that the whole community needs to be involved and active in public education, and we need to collaborate to maximize our respective strengths. Truly, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Collaboration takes lots of time, particularly up front, and time for all stakeholders is a precious commodity. Collaboration needs to be supported through appropriate resourcing. Sometimes, though, we just need to get on with the job at hand.
RE: Shared Governance. I also have a concern with “shared governance” if it comes with only the principle of shared decision making on paper and not the corresponding shared responsibility for the outcomes. We need to be careful that we don’t end up in in a situation where everyone is responsible and yet no-one is ultimately responsible. Our children and their future are too important. We ALL have a responsibilty toward our children/our future… I agree with that. Practically, school boards have been the governing body “where the buck stops” in terms of public education… Boards are a small enough working group where final decisions can be made effectively, and they are close enough to the local realities to reflect the local community in their decisions, and ultimately, they are the “public” voice in public education. If boards are well-connected to their communities, communicate well about upcoming decisions, and are open to hearing from the community, school boards are a very effective way of carrying out the business of public educcation. And if they are not doing this effectively, the community will let them know next election.
RE: appointments. I have a concern about appointments if you think this is the answer to “ensuring” a certain community is represented. Who will make the appointments? Which groups get an appointed representative… ? The democratic process means elected reps should be responsive to their entire community (those who elected them, those who opposed them, those who did not vote) — what will be the acocuntability of appointed reps? To the person who appointed them? What other “out of the box” ideas are there for ensuring all voices from all communities are heard in the decision-making process? Is it called public engagement?
I encourage everyone to visit the Inspiring Action Engage page and fill our your own transformation guide. http://engage.education.alberta.ca/inspiring-action/become-involved/
Also some other ideas on governance …
Edmonton Public Schools submission to the Minister with respect to School Act review
Comment from Public School Boards Association of Alberta on “Provincial governments or Local Communities: Where does school board accountability really lie?”
Some Thoughts on School Board Governance by Ken Chapman (and be sure to read all the comments that people have made on Mr. Chapman’s blog entry)
Cheers.
