Strait school board warned to behave

Nova Scotia's minister of education has reprimanded another school board forwhat she characterized asdisrespectfulbehaviour.

In a letter to the Strait Regional School Board, Education Minister Karen Casey said members "through words and actions, are not behaving in a manner keeping with the best interests of students" in the Strait region.

Casey ordered the board to write into its code of ethics that members are required to "show respect for others," not take any action to "embarrass" another board or staff member, and respect the confidentiality of privileged information.

The three-page letter focuses on respect among members and attendance at meetings. Twice, Casey reminds the board of her power to take control if the elected officials do not meet her expectations.

Board chair Mary Jess MacDonald said the minister's requests are reasonable.

"There isn't anything really difficult in the directives. It's things that should not affect anything negatively at the board," MacDonald said.

However, the motion to accept the changes was met with some resistance, passing by a narrow margin of 7-5.

"I personally don't have a problem with the content," said Frank Machnik, one of the dissenters. "But the point is, if there's a problem there, where is it arising?"

Machnik said some members are frustrated with the way things are operating and they want a chance to address that with the education minister.

"She has to, of course, understand that we're not just rubber stamps going along with what is always suggested by the staff. We question things. And when you do question things, sometimes people don't like it," he said.

Casey is not commenting on the matter. A spokesman for the Department of Education said Friday the letter speaks for itself.

Late last year, Casey dissolved the 13-member Halifax Regional School Board, saying the members failed to show each other enough respect, which meant the board couldn't do its job.