“Runaway train never going back. Wrong way on a one-way track… Seems like I should be getting somewhere. Somehow I’m neither here nor there.”
- Soul Asylum
… Now that I have an afternoon song in your head…
After public outcry at the final public school board meeting of 2011, over what some viewed as a muzzling of citizen input into CBE affairs, the publicly-funded body is taking more heat today over changes to their governance structure.
Among the changes, in an overhaul of their procedures, the Calgary Board of Education is essentially looking to limit trustee oversight on regularly occurring issues. Instead, it would entrust that responsibility to a capable administration staff.
While I have little doubt the CBE administration is fully capable of executing a high-standard of public cash stewardship, it’s not fully their mandate to do so. That’s the role of the democratically-elected trustee. That’s one part of the public’s voice in a public body. The other is the general public itself.
What’s even more troubling is that after having attempted to limit public input, which was saved after much debate, it would appear to some as though the CBE is attempting to back-door the public engagement process by reducing the role of the trustee.
If limiting public say into board decision isn’t politically pleasing, then let’s try another way. Limit the role of the publicly-elected board. That could mean limiting questions, limiting debate, limiting oversight – or just plain limiting public input. That sounds frighteningly like what they tried to do before Christmas.
Sure, the trustees will still get a say – once a year, I believe – but it’s not enough to ensure proper accountability and timely attention to legitimate public concerns. But further, it raises a fundamental issue. Public engagement.
Other organizations are gearing up for more public engagement (whether it’s a charade or not remains in question): Prime Minister Harper has indicated he’d like increased public input into the nation’s budget; Mayor Nenshi and the City of Calgary have already implemented the first phases of a program to have more voices involved in city decision-making. The Edmonton Public School Board remains committed to ensuring the voice of its citizens is heard, either through decisions made at the school level, or concerns brought forth to the trustees.
Furthermore, there are examples across the globe of what happens when the voice of the citizen is muted. Change occurs.
Big change.
I do admire the Calgary Board of Education for recognizing governance changes need to be made. That’s the first step to admitting that there could be a problem.
The question is: Should they continue this way down a one-way track? Everyone seems to be going one direction – towards greater public engagement. It would appear to many they are going in another direction.
D..
