Chair Micheal Murray answers pressing questions as school year begins

By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

In a recent interview, Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) Chair Michael Murray discussed the board’s plans and challenges for the new school year, offering a detailed look into issues such as school enrollment, air quality, the electrification of the bus fleet, and ongoing legal battles.

The conversation, held on Aug. 28, was informed by discussions during the ETSB’s Aug. 27 monthly meeting, which marked the first gathering of the new school year. Murray’s responses reveal the complexities of managing the board’s operations amid increasing student numbers and legislative challenges.

How is the school board planning to handle the continuity of operations during the upcoming election period, and what should parents expect?

“Parents should expect business as usual,” Murray assured. He emphasized that front-end services would remain unaffected, explaining, “Our administrators in their various departments will have all the authority necessary to carry out any functions and to make any decisions that are required in that interval.” This continuity is crucial for maintaining stability during the election period.

School enrollment is increasing. What steps are being taken to ensure that class sizes remain manageable and students receive adequate attention?

Murray acknowledged the challenges posed by increasing enrollment but highlighted the constraints imposed by collective agreements. “Class sizes are now determined entirely by collective agreements with the various categories of employees,” he said. This includes the number of hours a week and other functions, all of which are “very minutely defined by the collective agreements.”

He added, “We have very little control over new students arriving, and if they come to a room that’s already full, we really don’t have the capacity to turn on a dime and divide classes or change things.” However, when classes exceed the agreed size, teachers receive premiums, and “we can compensate that way.” Despite these measures, Murray noted, “We’re reluctant to reorganize entire schools lightly because the impact is on the entire class.”

Murray also highlighted that school enrollment continues to grow, bringing the total number of students, including those in the adult sector, to just under 6,200. He emphasized that this growth reflects the quality of education and the human approach the ETSB provides.

What measures are being implemented to improve air quality in schools, and how will this impact students’ health?

Addressing concerns about air quality, Murray stated, “We have had CO2 detectors in all of our spaces for three years now, and they are live monitors operating 24/7.” He emphasized that while air quality issues are not widespread, any detected problems are quickly mitigated with air filters or other devices. “We actually have fewer than a dozen of those devices in place throughout our 27 sites,” he noted, indicating that significant issues are rare.

Murray also detailed a major air quality project aimed at reducing the board’s carbon footprint. “We began converting [schools] to heat pumps of various kinds, geothermal or aerothermal. Phase one will be finished in 2024-2025, and those 10 sites are now air-conditioned, with filtered and mechanically ventilated air.”

What’s the progress and challenges related to the electrification of the school bus fleet?

Murray described the transformation to electric buses as “replete with challenges.” He explained, “The buses have limitations that we’re not accustomed to, and we have to adapt our operating practice accordingly.” Unlike diesel buses, electric buses require “very high-capacity charging,” which is not readily available in many schools.

“Our parking lots become charging locations,” Murray said, highlighting the need for significant infrastructure investment. “It’s costing in excess of $100,000 per charging station, which will charge only one bus in a daily cycle.” Additionally, the heavier weight of electric buses has required the reinforcement of parking lots to prevent the asphalt from sinking.

He also touched on the human element of this transformation, noting, “Some of our older drivers simply decided to retire when we proposed to them that they switch to an electric bus,” adding to the challenge of recruiting enough bus drivers. Murray stressed the ETSB has enough drivers for this school year.

Can you discuss briefly the implications of the school board’s legal challenges related to Bill 96 and Bill 21 and its effect on the board’s operations and the students’ educational experience?

Murray was clear that the ongoing legal battles have not affected day-to-day operations. “As far as we can manage, other than concerns about long-term operations, our litigation, our legal activities have had zero impact on our operations,” he stated. He explained that the ETSB’s involvement in these legal actions is primarily through the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA), which has spearheaded challenges against these bills.

On Bill 40, which aimed to abolish English school boards, Murray noted, “We still exist under a so-called stay or an injunction obtained at the beginning of the litigation against Bill 40.” He acknowledged that while the board has so far been successful in its legal battles, “we suspect the government won’t be [satisfied], and so there’ll be an appeal.”

Murray also mentioned the significant costs involved in these legal battles. “We’ve spent, I think, to date on litigation of all kinds well in excess of a million dollars,” he said. This money was raised through various means, including personal donations from commissioners and contributions from external donors, to ensure that funds intended for student services were not diverted.

What is the status of the new ETSB website, and what benefits will it bring?

Murray expressed frustration with the current ETSB website, describing it as “clunky and slow” and “not really attuned to what we’re trying to accomplish or communicate to the public.” He revealed that the board has decided to rebuild the website from the ground up using available communications resources. The goal is to create a site that is easy to update and can provide timely information to the community, including “celebrating successes of students” and sharing important news.

“We want to be able to make those changes ourselves on a sort of daily basis, putting in new developments,” Murray said, indicating that the new website will be more dynamic and user-friendly.

How are the schools preparing to integrate the 55 new international students and ensure they have a positive educational experience?

Murray highlighted the long-standing success of the ETSB’s international student program, which has been in place for “probably 15 or 16 years.” He explained that the program has evolved from initially attracting mostly European students to now including a more balanced mix from various countries. “These are students with families coming to a foreign country for a year, or in some cases, a semester as a learning experience before they go on to university.”

The board’s approach to integration is unique in that students are housed with local families rather than in dormitories. “Staying with a family, living a family life while going to school, has proven to be a major attraction,” Murray said, noting that this approach provides students with a broad exposure to the local culture and activities.

Murray also mentioned that the ETSB has been working in partnership with the New Frontiers School Board to accommodate international students, a partnership formalized through a signed agreement that has been in place for several years. This collaboration aims to grow the program and better accommodate the students.

With regard to school board elections, how is the board encouraging participation, and why is it important for parents to be involved in the process?

Murray candidly admitted that the board is not well-equipped or funded to promote the upcoming school board elections. “We do it by default, but we’re not really equipped or budgeted to promote the election,” he said. Despite these limitations, the board has developed a minimal communication plan set to begin around Sept. 1 and run for three to four weeks.

He stressed the importance of parental involvement, stating, “The real sense of urgency we have is that few, if any, of the general public are even aware that it’s an election year for the school boards.” Participation is crucial, he argued, because “voting in a school election is just a gesture to say to whoever, yes, we care.”

Additionally, Murray mentioned plans to hold an open information session on Sept. 3 to encourage potential candidates for school commissioner positions to apply and participate in the upcoming elections. This session will provide detailed information on the process and is part of the board’s efforts to raise awareness about the importance of these elections.

Murray also confirmed he will be running again to renew his position as chair.

Are there any lingering programs or steps being taken to make up for any delays caused by the pandemic?

Murray explained that while last year saw significant efforts to address pandemic-related delays, including extra budgets from the Ministry of Education for remediation, “we don’t have that same resource in our current budget.” He believes the board has moved past the worst of the pandemic’s impact, particularly for high school students who were most affected during COVID. “We’re kind of over the hump on that,” he said, adding that students have had “three years to catch up” and have likely received as much support as they can absorb.

Murray also reflected on the emotional impact of the pandemic on students, noting that “not one of them mentioned a memory from the COVID years” when asked about their favorite memories from elementary school. This highlights the emotional and educational gap caused by the pandemic, which the board has worked hard to address.

Parents may have concerns over accessibility in the current political climate and eligibility for English-language education. What is the board doing to address that?

Murray’s advice to parents was clear: “Get your eligibility certificate. Get it while the kids are in kindergarten or pre-K.” He explained that obtaining this certificate ensures that students’ rights to English-language education are protected, even if they attend French schools. The board has staff dedicated to helping parents navigate the process, but once the documents are submitted to the ministry, “we have no control over what happens from there.”

He also expressed concern over recent bureaucratic challenges, particularly for students over 18, where the ministry has been less accommodating. “It’s a real Catch-22 and a real violation of what was always understood under Bill 101,” Murray said, highlighting the board’s efforts to support students despite these obstacles.

Is there anything else you would like parents to know?

Murray concluded the interview with a message to the community: “It’s really important for our community members to understand that we’re fighting on their behalf for the principle of fair treatment and equity.” He emphasized the need to protect the institution of the school board, warning that “if we don’t stand up and fight for [our rights], we may get treated as if they didn’t exist.” Murray also encouraged community involvement in the upcoming elections, stressing that participation is a vital way to show that “we care” about the future of English-language education in the Eastern Townships.