The suggestion by Professor Sheryl McMath that Chilliwack Board of Education Trustees leave all the hiring of administrative personnel to the superintendent of education sounds suspiciously close to elitism. To say that only superintendents have the qualifications to hire administrators is a bit scary, especially so when you are speaking of a very large percentage of the board of education budget – which the trustees, and not the superintendent, are responsible for.
Trustees are elected by the public to look after education and the taxpayers money which goes to education.
When a considerable number of senior staff leave within a relatively short period of time and when the standards of education in the area appear by any criteria to be well behind others in the province then it is the duty and responsibility of the trustees to investigate.
For the Professor to suggest that it is in essence “none of your business” because they have a superintendent to look after all the hiring is not only a lame rationale but gives the impression that she believes that those not employed in education haven’t the ability to understand the issues. Does it then follow that parents haven’t the right to be involved and concerned about their children’s education because they are not teachers?
Of course the superintendent must be listened to but it only stands to reason that those who hire that person must be able to act if they have concerns.
Ms. McMath seems to be suggesting that the only role of the trustees is to make sure the money is there so that those best qualified can run the show as they wish and not be responsible to anyone other that the superintendent. Sort of the old “Trust me, I’m impotent” idea.
It’s only common sense that those elected to look after education should be able to do so. If they don’t fulfill their role then the electors can get rid of them at the next election.
Andy Fraser,
Chilliwack
