July 7, 2015
Manitoba Government Releases Review Into Winnipeg School Division
– – –Action Taken to Improve Oversight and Accountability in Manitoba School Divisions: Minister Allum
The Manitoba government has released the Winnipeg School Division Governance Review, expects the Winnipeg School Division will act quickly on the recommendations of the report and is taking concrete steps to improve transparency and accountability for all school divisions, Education and Advanced Learning Minister James Allum announced today.
“Parents want the Winnipeg School Division to work in the best interests of their children and we believe this report provides the division with the tools it needs to strengthen accountability and transparency,” said Minister Allum. “We expect the Winnipeg School Division to work diligently to act on the recommendations of the review.”
The report was requested by the province in response to public concerns about the level of transparency and accountability in some of the school board’s practices and it was conducted by Dr. John Wiens, dean emeritus and professor, faculty of education, University of Manitoba.
In addition to the 22 recommendations the Winnipeg School Division board will be expected to act upon, the province will take additional steps to increase accountability and transparency in school divisions including expanding the ombudsman’s authority to include school divisions and expanding whistleblower protection to school division employees.
”Governance bodies such as municipalities and health authorities are currently covered by ombudsman and public interest disclosure legislation,” said Ken Cameron, president, Manitoba School Boards Association. “We believe that the formal appeal processes contained in these statutes could serve school boards and their communities equally well.”
The minister has provided departmental support for the Winnipeg School Division to meet these targets by appointing Dr. David Yeo, director, education administration services, Manitoba Education and Advanced Learning to aid the board as it works toward meeting the objectives set for it in the review. The minister added that Wiens has made himself available to help the board meet its objectives.
Minister Allum noted that he is also putting a timeline in place for compliance for the Winnipeg School Division to meet these objectives including:
- the expectation the division and its administration will discuss and accept the report immediately;
- an early adoption of key recommendations this summer;
- a full plan detailing how the division will implement all recommendations by the end of August; and
- significant progress on implementing recommendations and a plan for completion by December.
“As chair of the board of trustees, I am committed to working with my colleagues on the board to review and address the governance recommendations outlined in the report prior to Aug. 30,” said Mark Wasyliw, Winnipeg School Division.
The report is available online at www.edu.gov.mb.ca/edu/docs/index.html.
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