Parker Grimmer named to head English schools on P.E.I.

The principal of Queen Charlotte Intermediate School has been chosen to take over day-to-day operation of English schools on Prince Edward Island after the English Language School Board is disbanded.

Parker Grimmer will be the head of the new public schools branch, a Crown corporation.

Education Minister Doug Currie said those interested in other senior positions will need toreapply for jobswhich are being transferred to the Department of Education.

"If you look at the last reorg, where we brought the west and the east together, they didn't go to an open competition, they went to a placement of individuals in the positions, and certainly as minister I didn't support that direction," he said.

"We wanted to be very open and transparent to give everyone an opportunity."

Currie said transportation, maintenance and HR staff don't have to reapply, they'll keep their positions with the public schools branch.

The province said 32 positions will be eliminated with the changes in the education system, but it's committed to keeping the same number of teachers.

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