Quebec backtracks on plan to eliminate school boards

The Couillard government is scrapping its proposed education reform, which included a controversial plan to overhaul or eliminate school boards.

In place of Bill 86, Education Minister Sbastien Proulx wants to introduce a series of new measures, a spokesperson for the minister confirmed Friday.

"The minister intends to file a new bill that will include the elements that found consensus during consultations," Marie-ve Dion said in an email.

"This new legislation is part of our efforts to improve the success of all students."

Proulx outlined the broad strokes of his planin an interview La Presse published Friday, and later confirmed the detailswith Radio-Canada.

• Bill 86: proposed school boardreform could violate Anglo rights, expert says

Among the ideaslaid out by Proulx:

• keep school board elections.
• more pre-kindergarten classes available startingat fouryears old.
• make school mandatory until 18 years old.
• create aprofessional association for teachers.
• create a national institute of excellence for education.

Couillard'stwo previous education ministers, Pierre Moreau and Franois Blais,questioned the relevance of school boards given low voter turnout for board elections.

Amonganglophone school boards, the turnout in 2014 was 17per cent.On the French side it was about four per cent.

Despite that, Proulx says he's not going to mess with school boards for now.

He didn't give a timeline for the implementation of thenew reforms.

A 'disgrace' or democracy in action?

Jennifer Maccarone,chairof the Wilfred Laurier School Board, told CBC Montreal's Daybreak she was pleased with the decision.

"We certainly have a lot of respect for the ministry in terms of listening to us," she said.

"Democracy is something that needs to be respected and this is great news that we'll be moving forward in maintainingthat."

However, not everyone sees it that way.

Chris Eustace, aformer teacher who has run for chairman of the Lester B. Pearson Board, said the move is "more than disappointing. It's a disgrace."

Eustace saidschool boards are a waste of money and they do little to help students.

He doubts anyone would miss them.

"We're talking about a few people losing financial benefits form being elected as chairpersons of various school boards," he said.

• Quebec shelves controversial new history course

The minister does say he wants to address the problem of voter turnout for board elections, perhaps by introducing online voting.