A new education bill that revamps teacher professional development and promotes shared services among districts is also being criticized as a means to intrude on the autonomy of school boards.
Education groups have pointed to an addition under administrative directives that says "failure of a board to comply with an administrative directive under subsection (1) is grounds for the appointment of an official trustee."
BC Teachers Federation president Jim Iker said that section "will expand the Minister of Education's power to issue directives to school boards and replace those democratically elected bodies with an appointee if they don't comply."
District 57 trustee Sharel Warrington called the changes under Bill 11 significant and worrisome.
"It's very concerning and its implications we really won't know until we've had a real good chance to look at what it means for the board governance, what it means for board autonomy, what it means in a lot of ways," said Warrington, who is the district representative for the B.C. School Trustees Association.
Warrington said she hasn't yet had a chance to review the extent of the changes to the School Act, Independent School Act and Teachers Act, which were released Thursday morning.
In its announcement, the B.C. government focused on the changes to professional development, noting the province has "no detailed requirements" for teachers to maintain their skills.
"British Columbians expect our K-12 system to be run efficiently, that teachers and students have the supports they need, and that everyone is focussed on what matters most - student learning," said Peter Fassbender, Minister of Education, in the press release. "That's what these amendments are all about."
The B.C. School Trustees Association called for "meaningful consultation" on any new regulations.
"BCSTA will be working to ensure that the autonomy of Boards of Education will not be negatively impacted with the implementation of the act's amendments. The ability of Boards to make local decisions in the best interest of their schools and students remains of great importance," its release said.
District 57's board previously criticized the lack of consultation with trustees for the withdrawal of funds for adult basic education upgrades for graduated students. The cuts were announced the same week as the BCSTA and the province signed its memorandum of understanding in early December.
Warrington said the co-governance model has not been respected.
"It is very worrisome that there's such a lack of consultation," she said. "I believe all boards of education will need some serious time to look at its implications."
Iker connected the changes to the recently proposed administration cuts to district budgets, amounting to $54 million over two years.
"It's just a matter of time before we see the government order directives to close schools, cut important programs, or force layoffs," said Iker in a statement.
