School board legislation coming: minister

The P.E.I. government will introduce legislation to help it deal with troubles with trustees of the Eastern School District, says Education Minister Doug Currie.

Currie's promise comes as the P.E.I. Home and School Federation declared Thursday night it has no confidence in the board of trustees, and after he received a letter from senior staff at the school board outlining how policy roadblocks are affecting their work.

"I will be bringing in legislation, hopefully in the fall sitting," Currie told CBC News Friday.

"My issue is their inability to move policy, which is directly connected to learning in the classroom."

Currie said he is reluctant to move against an elected board of trustees, but he is prepared to act if he has to.

At a meeting Thursday night, the P.E.I. Home and School Federation drafted a letter to Currie, stating it doesn't believe the board is functional or accountable, and that it needs to be more accessible.

Months of arguments amongst trustees culminated in a meeting of the school board last week, attended by federation president Owen Parkhouse. Parkhouse described the meeting as a three and a half hour clash between board chair Bob Clow and trustees.

Meetings of trustees have been suspended for a month while it tries to sort out internal problems.

"I think time off is one thing but time off and doing something while you're off is another thing," said Parkhouse.

"I think that's where hopefully the minister can come in and give some guidance. Something has to be done. We're the voice of the parents and the voice of the child on the Island."