Minister Osborne Provides Update on English School District Transition

Education Minister Tom Osborne provided an update on the plan for integrating the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District under the Department of Education on Monday.

The changes would occur in two stages.

The first stage, which would occur this Fall would include the creation of a smaller interim board to oversee continued operations during the transition period and assist in the transition of the NLESD into the Department of Education.

The board would also be appointing a transition team to work with current NLESD leadership, the Department of Education and the interim board to oversee the integration process.

The new interim board would replace the existing Board of Trustees.

If the proposed amendments to the Schools Act, 1997 are passed, the changes to the board will take effect shortly after the Bill receives Royal Assent.

In the second stage, occurring in the lead up to September 2022, the Provincial Government intends to establish a public schools branch that is responsible for providing direct services to students and expand the role of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of School Councils to act in an advisory role to government.