Anglo groups tell Quebec not to meddle with school boards

The Quebec government's proposed school board reform could jeopardize ananglophone school system that is already working well, a committee of MNAs was told on Tuesday.

• Bill 86: Hearings on school board reform underway

The Coalition for the Future of English Educationjoined the Association of Administrators of English Schools at a hearing in Quebec City to warn the government against pushing ahead with Bill 86.

If passed, Bill 86 would abolish school board elections and councils of commissioners.

That would do more harm than good, according to Anglo groups. They argue the bill targets failures that don't exist in the English system.

English schools have lower drop-out rates and higher graduation grates than their French counterparts, said Richard Bourhis, a member of theCoalition for the Future of English Education

"We feel that this law is unsettling so many of the good practices that have been achieved so far in the system," he said.

Administrators, for their part, worry the bill will only add furtherresponsibilities to their already demanding workload.

"We have more of us doing more work," said Jim Jordan, president of the Association of Administrators of English Schools.

"As your numbers shrink your finances diminish. It becomes harder and harder for us to do the excellent job that we've been able to do over the last number of years."

The hearings will continue Wednesday afternoon with an appearance by theQuebec English School Boards Association.