May 3, 2012

PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD ENHANCE TRUSTEE ACCOUNTABILITY, IMPROVE SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE: ALLAN

Education Minister Nancy Allan introduced a new bill today that would require school boards to adopt codes of conduct for trustees and allow school boards to discipline trustees who breach the code of conduct.
“Accountability and good governance are critical to ensuring that schools are able to support the work of teachers and parents to provide our children with quality educational programming,” said Allan. “School boards have asked government to bring in legislation to give them the ability to discipline members who are in breach of their codes of conduct.  This new legislation would clarify expectations concerning conduct and behaviour of board members, and give school boards greater capacity to ensure accountability of their members.”
Currently, school boards are limited in their ability to hold trustees accountable for inappropriate conduct.
Bill 21 would requireschool boards to adopt a code of conduct that would require trustees to:

• act with integrity and in a manner that maintains the dignity of the office;
• respect others who may have differing opinions; and
• keep in confidence any personal or confidential information obtained in his or her capacity as a trustee, and not disclose the information except when required by law or authorized by the school board.

If the code of conduct is violated, school boards would have new options under Bill 21 to bar the trustee from attending school board meetings or committees, or suspending the trustee from the school board for up to three months.  The bill would also set out an appeals process whereby the sanctioned trustee could appeal to an independent adjudicator who could vary or set aside the sanction.
The Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA) supports the proposed legislation, said MSBA president Robert Rivard.
“Manitoba school boards are committed to responsible and ethical leadership that furthers student learning and achievement and inspires public confidence in our schools.  This legislation supports our commitment and will help to ensure excellence in school board governance across our province.”
Similar legislation already exists in Ontario and Nova Scotia.

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