Quebec cutting out boards in some school funding

Quebec schools will be able to access close to $200 million in provincial government funds next school year without having to go through their school board.

The move comes as the Liberal government reorients its approach to education after backing away from its proposed reforms to the province's school boards.

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Those reforms which included changes to the make-up of elected school boards triggered howls of protest from anglophone school boards.

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In an interview Thursday with CBC'sDaybreak, Premier Philippe Couillardsaid the government jettisoned thoseelectoral reforms when it became clear the controversy was creating a distractionfrom its other priorities.

"Seeing that the only subject that was discussed in the public arena was the structural one, we decided to put it away and concentrate our energy on true matters," he toldDaybreak.

Among the government's priorities, he said, was increasing the autonomy of schools when it comes to deciding how they allocatetheir resources.

"A significant amount of money is going to be sent directly to schools without transiting through the school board, so that schools can make their own decisions in certain matters,"Couillard said.

"This is much more important for our kids than the number of school boards that are having or not having school elections."

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More latitude for schools

Couillardcalledattention to a little-noticedannouncement Education Minister Sbastien Proulxmade Wednesday.

New budgetary rules, to be in place for the 2016-2017 school year, will allow schools toaccess $195 million in provincial money directly.

Each school welcomes a clientele with needs and expectations that are specific to it.- Education Minister Sbastien Proulx

The new rules will give schools more money for theintegration of students with learning difficulties and disabilities and for literacy programs for underprivileged students. Schools will also have more leewayin how they spend money on books andanti-bullying resources.

"It is desirable that schools benefit from more latitude in the choice of resources that contribute to the success of their students," Proulx said in a news release.

"Each school welcomes a clientele with needs and expectations that are specific to it."

Couillard's government has been intent on reducing the influence of the province's school boards. Previous education ministers, including Pierre Moreau and Franois Blais, havequestioned their relevance, given the low voter turnout for board elections.

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