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For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com Your news leader since 1905
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Cowichan school trustees meeting for the last time? Going down swinging? Last-ditch meeting with premier requested, legal avenues explored as board 10 days from ďŹ ring deadline on the board’s four-trustee minority, who do not support the deÂżcit budget. “I still don’t know what the Âżnal outcome is going to be,â€? Trustee Cathy chool District 79’s Âżve-trustee Schmidt said. “Is the deÂżcit budget going majority isn’t going down to go through? Are we going to be Âżred? without a Âżght. The board has been told it has Or is there going to be a last-minute until June 30 to dump its deÂżcit change of heart? I don’t know.â€? She says she has no idea budget and submit a balanced what path the board’s majority w one in its place to the Ministry will follow. w of Education. The alternative is “Our board is so completely nine pink slips relieving the ninedivided now,â€? Schmidt said. member board of its duties, and “And my future is in their a single appointed trustee taking hands. h their place. “Is this going to be our last But not if the board’s majority meeting? I don’t know. And m has anything to say about it. it’s hard to go in prepared, They’re requesting a meeting Deb Foster: bbecause I don’t know what to with Premier Christy Clark and colonial leftover bbe preparing for.â€? have organized another rally Schmidt’s also curious what the postSchmidt’ happening 3:30 p.m. Wednesday outside id the school board ofÂżce on Beverly Street. June 30 process will look like, but the Ministry of Education isn’t saying much There’s also a motion on Wednesin that regard. day’s agenda — possibly this board’s “Minister (George) Abbott has been last — seeking a legal opinion about the clear that all boards of education, province’s ability to remove trustees from including the trustees who make up the their posts. Cowichan Valley board, have a legal reChairwoman Eden Haythornthwaite sponsibility under the School could not be reached for comAct to pass a balanced budget A ment on Tuesday, but Trustee bby June 30, 2012,â€? education Deb Foster said she supports ministry spokesman Scott m Âżghting to stay in ofÂżce. Sutherland said Tuesday. “I am so passionate about being “He’s also been clear that 59 a trustee, I will take any action other boards of education in just to Âżnd out what the legalities B.C. have indicated that they are,â€? she said. “I think it’s our will meeting their obligaw due diligence to the public.â€? tions and duties laid out in t Cathy Schmidt: Foster said she dislikes the notthe School Act. If the School tion that two people in the prov- in their hands District 79 board does not ince — the education minister pass a balanced budget by the p and governor-general — have the power legislated date, the minister will undoubtto remove democratically elected boards. edly let parents know in a timely manner “I think it’s a colonial power left over what steps the government is prepared to from when we were under British rule,â€? take to ensure that the needs of students, she said. “It’s old-fashioned. The public parents, teachers and staff in the Cowelected us, the nine of us, and it would ichan Valley are addressed.â€? be a disservice to our community if our Sutherland also noted the ministry is democratically elected trustees were Âżred. aware School District 79’s superintendent And if they do have that power, they and secretary-treasurer have advised the shouldn’t. It should be the community board it has “a viable option to balance who decides.â€? the district’s budget.â€? But the uncertainty is weighing heavily
Krista Siefken
News Leader Pictorial
S
Andrew Leong
Krista Schmidt and Bryson Prince arrived at the Cowichan Secondary School grad banquet in a 1998 BMW convertible at the Island Savings Centre on Saturday, June 16. For more prom photos, go to cowichannewsleader.com.
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