Writing's on the blackboard for Quebec school boards as CAQ moves to take away EMSB schools

In what appears to be a foreshadowing of the Quebec government's planto eliminate school boards altogether, for the second time this year, the education minister has made it clear he's prepared to take property from one school board and hand it to another without much in the way of consultation.

In a letter sent Wednesday to the chair of the English Montreal School Board, Education Minister Jean-Franois Roberge said he's poisedto order the EMSBto transfer three buildings to theCommission scolaire de Pointe-de-l'le, a French-language board in Montreal's east end that's squeezed for space.

The schools are General Vanierelementary and John Paul I junior high in Saint-Lonardand Gerald McShane elementaryin Montral-Nord.

In his letter, Roberge citesarticle 477.1.1 of the Education Act, which gives the minister the power to order a building be transferred from one school board to another.

School boards in Quebec have negotiated among themselves for the loan or transfer of buildings often over the years.

Normally, such consultationslast 18 months, the EMSB's vice-chair, Joe Ortona told CBC News. ButRobergegave the EMSB just over a month until June 10 to tell him what issues could arise from the building swaps.

An 'extraordinary measure'

LastJanuary, Roberge ordered another English-language board, Lester B. Pearson, to turn over Riverdale Highin Pierrefonds to the French-language Commission scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoysin July.

"It's an exceptional use, but for a minister who clearly plans on abolishing school boards he just kind of plans on doing it anyway with this power," Kelley said.

The Legault government is drawing up legislation toabolish all Quebec school boards one of the premier'skey promises during last fall'selection campaign.

Russell Copeman, the executive director of the Quebec English School Boards Association, said that making these decisions in Quebec City "bodes very, very badly for the English-speaking community."

"I think there is a pattern developing of the government of Quebec centralizing these decisions, cutting out democratically elected school boards who are better placed to make local decisions," Copeman said.

Roberge argued the move is necessary because English-language students are attending mostly empty schools, while the Pointe-de-l'leboard's schools are overflowing.

"Almost 3,000 students will have no classrooms next year," he said in his May 8letter to the EMSB.

"We are taking action, and we are taking a responsible decision, because the English Montreal School Board didn't do so," Robergetold reporters Friday.

The board's commissioners are inviting parents to a special meeting on the subject at the EMSB headquarters at 6000 Fielding Avenue on May 13 at 7 p.m.