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12-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, July 10, 2001 If you have a Mo community oo Monftion to defer vote on the public school board's policy governance model defeated comi ng up. By DENNIS SMITH Special to The Champion Trustees have been drilled for months on policy governance, but some fear its effect remains unknown. Chair Ethel Gardiner has described poli- cy govemance as trustees developing and monitoring policies, then holding the edu- cation director responsible. But Oakville trustee Drew Currah said trustees should serve as general managers of the Halton District Board of Education and not be lumped together as a cheering squad. He also disagreed that policy govemance is needed to make the board more efficient. "Efficiency and effectiveness are not part of democracy," he said. "Democracy is messy and democracy is needed." Policy governance will increase red tape, he added. "I have 4 to 5 pounds of paper here and this will add more paper and more bureaucracy." Mr. Currah said trustees should be allowed to abstain from voting if they don't have enough time to read and understand information. "It has happened to me." The new fonn of governance was actual- BEACH BUNNIES TOY DRIVE JULY 16 - 28 Make a splash this- summer. Bring a new stuffed toy to the beach scene in the mall and warm a child's heart. All toys will be donated to the Good Bears of Canada. It's Beter. to Give than to Receive rM ILM MALL friendly &familiar Escarpment Country- Tourism Partner Shopping Hours: Mon. to Fri. 9:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. Saturday 9:30 arm. - 6:00 p.m. Sunday Noon to 5:00 p.m. Corner of Main & Ontario 905-878-3900 Please let us know well in advance so we can plan for coverage. . .. .. . .... -- -- --- - -- -- - -- -- .. .. .. .. ..- . . . .. ly approved last September by the board, but Mr. Currah and Burlington trustee Peggy Russell said it's still difficult to grasp after six months of training. They argued the govemance model slat- ed for a vote recently be deferred until October to allow more opportunity for pub- lic feedback on the issue. "I'm not afraid of unpopular decisions, but I am opposed to making rushed deci- sions that have not had the full consultation process," said Ms Russell. She said policy govemance hands much responsibility over to the director and staff. "We need to be sure we're not delegating responsibility to the director and putting ourselves in jeopardy legally," she said. "And I'm fearful that under policy gover- nance my community will lose its voice and become marginalized." Citizen delegate Wendy Burton said pol- icy govemance muzzles trustees by insist- ing they speak with one voice, limiting speaking time and potentially the distribu- tion of materials to trustees. "... this will emasculate trustees, concen- trate too much power in the hands of the director and disenfranchise the public," said Ms Burton, the former school chair of Oakville Trafalgar High School. She said dissent is integral to democracy and can lead to new, improved policy. "This board faces problems of real dif- ferences in interests and philosophies... north vs. south, consolidation vs. decentral- ization, special programs vs. common pro- grams," she said. "These are problems best solved through the balancing act that is pol- itics." She expressed concern the proposed pol- icy govemance model will make negotiat- ing teams accountable to the education director, give him control of the budget and make the education director responsible for hiring all supervisory officers. "Ail it allows trustees who want to be involved in hiring is to act as advisors to the director," said Ms Burton. Board rushing, says citizen She indicated the board is rushing to pass its policy govemance model without con- sidering the full range of options, holding public discussion or obtaining an inde- pendent legal review. Debbie Downs, the board's governance and bylaw committee chair, reminded trustees policy governance bas already been approved by .he previous board. "Policies will be made by consultation and group interaction," said Downs. "For many constituents this is not a big surprise. Trustees are working with school councils and the public on this." She added gover ing policies aren't carved in stone and will be amended on a regular basis. "It will be advantageous for moving for- ward in terms of clear-<ut policies that all can understand - trustees, staff and the public," she said. Bylaws have not been amended in a huge manner other than to allow for changes in the structure of meetings. "They will include public input more than they exclude public input," she added. The deferral motion was defeated 7-3. Subsequent motions to adopt new govem- ing bylaws and policies were approved. The new bylaws will replace the former procedural bylaws in September. Community meetings to outline the gov- ernance model will be held throughout Halton in October.