EMSB injunction by parents denied by Superior Court judge

A group of parents whofiled an injunction against the English Montreal School Board has had their request denied by a Quebec Superior Court judge.

The group, Parents for a Democratic EMSB, filed the injunction in the hopes of stopping the EMSB school board from restructuring its parents committee.

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After spending a full day in court on April 29, the group is calling the situation a minor legal setback. They said the judge agreed that their concerns warrant a full hearing and they will work to schedule the next court date as soon as possible.

One of the co-plaintiffs for Parents for a DemocraticEMSB, David Benoit, says thatit is difficult to go up against the school board.

"As volunteers fighting against the well-oiled machine of the school board, without the same taxpayer money theEMSBcan use to pay outside lawyers, it is not surprising that we remain at a disadvantage," Benoit said.

In February, the EMSB's parents committee got 26 new members after the board's eastern and western regions were merged.

Parents for a Democratic EMSB alleged at the time that it was a political decision to bolster the EMSB's opposition to Bill 86.

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Joanne Charron, aparent commissioner with theEMSB, saysthat after this Quebec Superior Court rulingshe hopes to put the issue behind them.

"There are so many great things going on in our EMSB schools. It's time to focus on building for the future," shesaid.