Several heavy hitters in the region came to a press conference in Sherbrooke on Friday afternoon in a show of force to demonstrate the importance of maintaining democratically elected school boards. The four school boards in Estrie (Eastern Township School Board, the Commission scolaire de la Région-de-Sherbrooke, the Commission scolaire des Hauts-Cantons and the Commission scolaire des Sommets) have adopted a common position regarding the CAQ’s education reform Bill 40 and prepared a declaration pointing out the shortcomings of the bill. In a symbolic gesture, the chairs of the four boards asked stakeholders and supporters to add their names to the declaration, which will be delivered to the National Assembly by Sherbrooke MNA and education critic Christine Labrie. “This is not just a bill that will do harm, it’s a bad bill,” commented ETSB Chairman Michael Murray during the press conference. According to Murray, the proposed legislation would create two classes of citizens in Quebec on the basis of language affiliation, in addition to violating the sacred principle of “no taxation without representation.” See full story in the Monday, Jan. 27 edition of The Record.
Regional support to defend school boards
By Matthew McCully
