By William Crooks

Local Journalism Initiative

At its March 25 meeting, the Eastern Townships School Board (ETSB) council tackled a wide range of topics, from staffing appointments to building upgrades and legislative concerns. The meeting, presided over by chairperson Michael Murray, highlighted several key issues currently shaping the board’s operations.

Leadership transition in educational services

The council approved the appointment of Emmanuelle Gaudet as Director of Instructional Technology and Pedagogical Services, effective July 1. Gaudet will replace Eva Lettner, who is retiring at the end of August.

While welcoming Gaudet, Murray and others offered praise for Lettner’s long service. “She’s been a pillar for as long as I’ve been certainly in this chair,” said Murray. On a lighter note, he joked about recent ministerial directives that “inspired, no doubt, by news that you were intending to retire,” included a new unremunerated committee for retired administrators—“a perfect job” for Lettner, he quipped.

Request for new vocational training program

The board voted to seek ministerial authorization to add a General Building Maintenance course to its vocational training offerings. The move comes as part of a broader effort to diversify programming and respond to strong regional labour demand. If approved, the program could be run independently or in partnership with other English school boards.

Upcoming by-election in Ward 3

A by-election will be held by July 20 to fill the Ward 3 seat vacated by Commissioner Megan Séline, who resigned on March 20. The board appointed Sean Champigny as the returning officer for the election. Murray expressed regret over Séline’s departure, saying the board had “high hopes” her background would have helped the council better understand internal education processes.

Legal challenges and legislative pressure

During his report, Murray addressed ongoing and potential litigation related to recent provincial legislation. He confirmed that the Quebec English School Boards Association (QESBA) has already spent over $1.1 million challenging Bills 21 and 40 and is preparing to contest Bills 96 and 86, all of which are viewed as infringing on the constitutional rights of English-language school boards.

“Our recommendation to the boards is take all the time you want or require to modify your code of ethics,” Murray said, referring to a directive from the Ministry of Education setting a deadline for boards to implement new ethics codes that align with provincial secularism laws. He added that legal counsel had confirmed English boards are exempt from the April 4 deadline.

Capital improvement projects

Several infrastructure projects were approved during the meeting:

• New Horizons School: Basement classroom reorganisation project awarded to Construction Desrochers Bernard for $332,007, including taxes and professional fees.
• Sunnyside Elementary School: Additional funding of $189,809 approved for previously combined stairwell and admin area renovations, bringing the total project cost to $1.136 million.
• Princess Elizabeth Elementary School: Kitchen renovation project awarded to Construction Sovitech for $566,410.
• Playground improvements: A resolution was passed authorizing the board to apply for Ministry of Education (MEQ) grants for up to three years, with the ETSB and each school contributing $10,000 per project. The MEQ will fund 90 per cent of eligible expenses up to $100,000 per school.

International and student recognition

During the “Recognition of Excellence” portion, commissioners celebrated both student achievements and program visibility. Highlights included:

• The “2 for You” partnership between Massey-Vanier High School and the CDM Centre, supported by promotional materials and student testimonials.
• The International Student Program, which has seen increased interest from families looking to host students from countries such as Brazil, China, and Spain. Murray noted that hosting international students had been “a very enriching experience” for families he knew.
• A tribute to Shelby St-Hilaire, a recent Special Olympics double silver medallist and passionate chef, who was recognized for his perseverance and accomplishments.

Community and parental engagement

The Parent Advisory Committee reported efforts to boost participation in governing boards, including video promotion and hybrid meeting formats. Members also discussed the importance of clearer communication between parents and school administrators.

On the topic of cell phone use, the committee opposed a blanket ban, instead calling for more education on responsible use and better support for teachers enforcing existing rules.

Teacher concerns and union input

Public question period raised several concerns from teacher representatives:

• Violence survey: The Appalachian Teachers’ Association (ATA) expressed disappointment over the board’s refusal to partner on a broader violence survey and asked for clarity on the action plan stemming from last year’s OurSCHOOL survey.
• Special needs: Representatives requested increasing local special needs committee meetings from three to five times annually to address growing challenges.
• Role clarity: A call was made for administrators to clearly define staff roles each year to avoid blurred responsibilities.
• Attachment theory vs. job postings: Union representatives argued that current job postings sometimes undermine the board’s stated emphasis on student attachment, asking for greater alignment between policy and practice.

Murray acknowledged the concerns, directing many of them to future discussions between union representatives and administration, and noted, “We always need more” when it comes to supporting special needs.

Closing thoughts

The meeting concluded with a reading of a letter from Dr. Paul Kavanagh highlighting ETSB’s contribution to the “11 Days of Remembrance” national education program. Commissioners were encouraged to continue promoting student-led participation in commemorative activities, both locally and nationally.

The public council meeting lasted roughly an hour and the next one is scheduled for the end of April.